Our 5 favorite wine bars in Bordeaux
If you are visiting Bordeaux, you will surely want to taste the wines of the region. There are several solutions: join a tour to visit the vineyards of Saint-Emilion, Entre-deux-Mers or Graves, or simply go to one of the many wine bars downtown.
At Vert Bordeaux, we like to go out in the evening and we like wine, so here is our selection of the ones we prefer.
Yarra - 18 rue Notre-Dame
Located in the Chartrons district, north of the city, Yarra is a wine bar created by a French woman and an Australian. The name comes from the river that runs through Melbourne.
All in length, with a small open courtyard at the back, it’s a relaxing and intimate place where you can find a wide selection of local wines but also from all over the world, at very varied prices.
To accompany your drinks you can opt for a traditional charcuterie/cheese board, but there is also a very nice selection of dishes to share or main courses if you are more hungry. A real small restaurant, ideal as a couple or with friends.
ComplanTerra - 42 rue Sainte-Colombe
Opened just a few months ago, ComplanTerra is a wine bar with a sober and elegant decoration, where you can admire the whiteness of the Bordeaux limestone.
The place is in fact both a wine cellar and a bar, and it is specialized in natural, organic and biodynamic wines! What to make beautiful discoveries by testing wines respectful of the environment.
The kitchen does not propose hot dishes but beautiful spreads to share and especially excellent boards of charcuterie and cheese. The three young associates work directly with organic producers all over France and do honor to this classic that is the board. And if you want to know – or drink – even more, ComplanTerra regularly organizes tasting courses (information on the website).
Les 3 Pinardiers - 2 rue Georges Bonnac
Opposite the UGC cinema, Les 3 Pinardiers is the ideal bar if you want to try as many wines as possible by the glass, without wanting to spend a lot. The bar offers a very large selection of wines by the glass, from about 4,50€, coming from Bordeaux, France and elsewhere. The wine list is quite detailed as it presents for each wine the grape varieties and the aromas, to help you make your choice.
The interior is well decorated, mixing high tables, sofas and small more intimate tables. The food is also very reasonably priced: the small cheese board is very good value for money, as is the selection of vegetarian tapas. Be careful though, the bar fills up quickly!
Aux 4 coins du vin - 8 rue de la Devise
Close from the Place de la Bourse, in the charming Saint-Pierre district, is a bar that many Bordelais know well: Aux 4 coins du vin.
This small, long bar offers a fine selection of bottles from Bordeaux, France and elsewhere. What makes it special? A great selection of wines by the glass, which you can serve yourself using a prepaid card system. All you have to do is choose from the wines on offer, select the quantity of wine (3, 6 or 12 centilitres), insert the card, and a machine will serve you the precious beverage. It’s a system that makes it possible to taste a wide variety of wines in the same evening, and sometimes to fall for wines that are expensive by the bottle or even by the 12-centilitre glass, like this 1996 Margaux, recently tested in 3-centilitre format.
But beware of spending too much, because with this system, you’re less aware of what you’re drinking!
La Cave de la Gironde - 36 rue Mouliné
This is the last one we tried and we really liked its simple charm. Located in the Victoire district, La Cave de la Gironde is a wine cellar, a wine bar (from Thursday evening to Saturday evening) and also a small bistro for lunch during the week.
A small place located in a quiet street, the bar is mainly composed of a large central table where you can squeeze in with other guests while choosing with envy one of the many bottles that stand on the shelves. Some smaller tables complete the place.
The owner is nice, the atmosphere is relaxed. “Come as you are” could be the motto of La Cave de la Gironde, and it suits us very well. And obviously there is some food to order, but we did not taste (yet), so we let you discover for us!
That should be enough to get a good overview of Bordeaux wines, and wine in general! And if you’re looking for a place to have dinner after the aperitif in one of these bars, it’s a chance, we have a selection for you.