This is one of the most exclusive wine experiences available anywhere in the Bordeaux region — a fully private day at Château Durfort-Vivens, a 2ème Grand Cru Classé estate in the Margaux appellation, created exclusively for Ophorus guests and not available through any other tour operator. It is designed for wine lovers who want to go far beyond a standard château visit: access to rare vintages, direct engagement with the owner, and a gastronomic lunch paired with wines from three prestigious Left Bank estates.
Château Durfort-Vivens and the Margaux Appellation
Château Durfort-Vivens is one of the Margaux appellation's most historic estates, classified as a 2ème Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification and situated on the gravel soils of the Médoc's Left Bank. The estate produces wines of remarkable precision and elegance — structured, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blends that express the distinctive finesse of the Margaux terroir and reward long ageing in bottle. Château Durfort-Vivens is part of a family of estates that also includes Château Ferrière (3ème Grand Cru Classé, Margaux) and Château Haut-Bages Libéral (5ème Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac) — all three of which feature in your lunch tasting.
A Vertical Tasting of Seven Decades, Hosted by the Owner
The centrepiece of the experience is a private vertical tasting of seven vintages of Château Durfort-Vivens spanning seven decades, hosted and guided by the owner of the estate in an intimate tasting room reserved exclusively for your group. Glass by glass, you travel through time — exploring how the Margaux terroir, the specificities of each vintage, and evolving winemaking choices have shaped the personality of this Grand Cru Classé wine across generations. It is a depth of access to a single estate's history that is rarely offered to visitors anywhere in Bordeaux.
Gastronomic Lunch with a Horizontal Tasting of Three Estates
Your visit continues with a gastronomic lunch paired with a horizontal tasting of wines from three sister estates: Château Durfort-Vivens, Château Ferrière, and Château Haut-Bages Libéral. This format — three estates, one meal, side by side — allows you to compare different terroirs, appellations, and winemaking styles in direct conversation with each other. Your expert guide provides commentary throughout, helping you understand structure, balance, and ageing potential in a way that is both deeply educational and genuinely pleasurable.
Your English-speaking driver-guide collects you from your accommodation in Bordeaux and returns you at the end of the day. The experience is fully private, for your group only, and accommodates between 2 and 8 guests.
