French Waterways announces an exclusive new gastronomic voyage through the landscapes of France’s Bordeaux wine region for the 2026 season. Enjoy gliding along the calm waters of the Canal de Garonne with accommodations aboard the elegant hotel barge Saint Louis, privately guided tours and tastings at renowned estates, Michelin-starred lunches and Grand Cru Classé pairings with seasonal menus prepared by a personal chef. All-inclusive six-night charters are available on select dates between May and October, starting at $36,000 for four guests or $42,000 for six.
“For those who love fine wine and serious gastronomy as much as tranquil travel, this voyage is truly a unique experience,” said Rosie Mansfield, CEO of French Waterways. “Partnering with our longtime friends on the beautiful Saint Louis, we’ve curated a limited-edition itinerary that allows for rare access to tastings at legendary estates like Château d’Yquem, Michelin-starred dining and more. It’s Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion and Sauternes as you’ve never experienced them before.”
The Saint Louis offers refined comfort as it travels between Sérignac-sur-Garonne and Castets-en-Dorthe, with three stylish staterooms, a salon with an open bar and a spacious sundeck perfect for viewing the peaceful countryside, charming villages and fortified towns along the canal.
A champagne reception awaits guests boarding the barge and its cellar will feature Grand Cru Classé wines from key French regions that pair harmoniously with the chef’s menus.
Each day brings chauffeured excursions, including rare experiences like:
- A private tasting at Vignobles et Châteaux, a renowned Saint-Émilion wine specialist and négociant with a reputation for rare and mature bottles. - A private guided tour of Château La Gaffelière, a historic Premier Grand Cru Classé estate in Saint-Émilion growing age-worthy wines on limestone slopes. - A private guided tour and tasting at Château d’Yquem, the legendary Sauternes estate and the only château ever ranked Premier Cru Supérieur, the highest possible classification. - Guests will also savor a Michelin-starred lunch at either La Table de Pavie, where chef Yannick Alléno’s creative cuisine is paired with some of the region’s greatest wines, or Logis de la Cadène, which is known for its seasonal cuisine and exceptional cellar.
On a visit to a fourth-generation Armagnac estate, guests can learn about the history and production of France’s oldest brandy, enjoy tastings of its unique expressions and choose to create their own personalized bottle, drawn, corked, sealed and labeled by hand.
And at the lively weekly market in Casteljaloux, they’ll enjoy a guided cheese tasting and go shopping with the Saint Louis’ chef for seasonal produce that will be incorporated into onboard menus.
Other excursions include a visit to the extraordinary Latour-Marliac lily gardens at Temple-sur-Lot, where Monet placed orders for the flowers he later immortalized in his paintings at Giverny, and a visit the village church in Le Mas d’Agenais, home to the remarkable Rembrandt painting of “Christ on the Cross.”
Sérignac-to-Castets departures are available May 30, June 13, Aug. 22 and Oct. 3, and Castets-to- Sérignac departures are available June 20 and Aug. 29, with transfers from Bordeaux city or airport (Mérignac) included.
For more information, visit https://www.french-waterways.com/ or call 646-741-3242 in the United States or Canada.
