As one of the largest wine-producing regions in the world (spanning well over 100,000 hectares of vineyards and boasting more than 6,000 wine estates), Bordeaux offers a plethora of reds and whites, ranging from table wines to the most exclusive and sought-after labels in the world. The region is home to no fewer than 57 appellations, some of which instantly light up the eyes of connoisseurs: Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Sauternes and so on. That being said, the best wine bars in Bordeaux’s city centre don’t necessarily focus on the wines of the region. In fact, in recent years, wine lists have tended to look towards other parts of France and even the rest of the world for inspiration.
The high price of some of the most prestigious Bordeaux wine labels has something to do with this. Few bars can afford to offer first and second growths to their guests. Such cuvées are often allocated in limited quantities and to a different kind of establishment, typically reserved for high-end restaurants or to be tasted directly at the estate (and by prior reservation). Of course, there are some exceptions, with just a few gems listed below that offer wines by the glass or bottle from the top Bordeaux chateaux.
Another reason for a more diverse drinking scene in the city is the growing enthusiasm for more eco-friendly wines among consumers. Over the last decade, Bordeaux vineyards have faced criticism for their high prices, conservatism, reliance on intensive farming practices and, in some cases, the excessive use of chemicals in the vineyards and additives in the cellars. This ‘Bordeaux bashing’ phenomenon explains why a new generation of sommeliers, bartenders and wine merchants in town increasingly look to showcase organic, biodynamic, and even natural wines from other regions of France. But of course, among these producers you can still find Bordeaux winemakers who are trying to work differently in the vineyards and cellars.
All of Bordeaux’s best wine bars are conveniently within walking distance of each other
Curious wine lovers lured to the city for its connection with wine will be pleased to learn that many top bars offer a vast selection of wine by the glass – Le Sobre, Le Bar à Vins du CIVB and Aux Quatre Coins du Vin, in particular – sometimes listing up to forty different expressions at a time. And another positive characteristic of Bordeaux city’s scene is that its bars are concentrated downtown, primarily in the St Pierre or Chartrons neighborhoods. Meaning that all of the best wine bars listed below are conveniently within walking distance of each other and primed for a vinous bar crawl.
Top wine bars in Bordeaux
Soif
Tucked away down a small alley in the Saint-Pierre neighborhood, Soif serves exquisite dishes and acts as a rendezvous spot for trendy chefs and wine personalities. And with good reason: the cellar boasts nearly 350 low-intervention wine selections. Expect top names, outsiders, and the hard-to-find, from all corners of France and beyond: Bordeaux, the Dordogne, Champagne, Burgundy, the Loire, Savoie, Roussillon, Catalonia, the Douro… the list goes on. Don’t miss exceptional bottles featuring rare grape varieties crafted by ‘terroirist’ Domaine Plageoles, whose estate is just a three-hour drive away.
35 Rue du Cancera
soif-bordeaux.com
L’Univerre
With more than 1,300 wine references, this unassuming corner house is quite the standout. The list leans towards organic and biodynamic wines – but without being sectarian in its selection – and offers them at affordable prices. Traditional vintages mingle with prize wines from small producers, while fine wines sit alongside offerings from every region of France and beyond. The sommelier team delights in guiding customers with weekly glass selections, wines of the month, personal favourites, and food-pairing suggestions (its no-fuss kitchen is focused on local produce). Just across the road, L’Univerre has also opened a grocery store and a cellar specialising in Burgundy and boasting over 2,000 selections.
40 Rue Lecocq
@luniverre
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Le Sobre
Despite its name, which sounds rather contradictory (‘sobre’ means ‘sober’ in French), this Chartrons wine bar and cellar offers a comprehensive selection of French appellations, along with a wide array of international bottles. Take your pick from the cellar shop and enjoy your chosen bottle on-site with a low corkage fee (an additional 10€ per bottle). With around 25 wines available by the glass, there’s also plenty to explore if just stopping by. Should you fancy flexing any newly acquired Bordeaux wine knowledge, there’s even a blind tasting each week with a small prize awarded to the winner.
24, Quai des Chartrons
lesobrechartrons.com
Buvette
Marianne Lay opened her cute wine bar and cellar in the St. Pierre neighbourhood in June 2022, its wall filled with wine bottles climbing four metres high. Aiming to make wine accessible, Buvette offers nearly 70 wines (natural, biodynamic and organic), with a rotating selection of wines by the glass (5-6€ per glass), including three reds, three whites, a rosé, plus a natural sparkling or orange wine. For a bottle, expect to pay an average of 25-30€. You can also enjoy snacks on-site (cured meats, cheeseboards, small plates to share and piadinas), with tables placed out the front as soon as the sun is shining.
41, Cours d’Alsace et Lorraine
@buvette_bordeaux
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Bacchus
This brand-new restaurant not only offers dishes of excellent quality – refined and precise – but also boasts an eclectic selection of wines, its list featuring over 250 references. You can handpick bottles from a cellar that’s right in the heart of the restaurant. Among them are many great reds from Bordeaux (Château Pichon Baron Longueville and Domaine de Chevalier among the star choices). Prices range from €43 for a 2019 Francs-Côtes-de-Bordeaux from Château Puygueraud to €322 for the 2012 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru from Château Figeac).
5 Rue des Faussets
bacchus-bordeaux.fr
Le Bar a Vin du CIVB
On the ground floor of an elegant 18th-century building combining neoclassical architecture with contemporary furnishings, this bar run by the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bordeaux is ideal for sampling wines from the region without blowing your budget. You will find approximately 40 to 50 wines by the glass at rock-bottom prices. From a Bordeaux Supérieur for 2.50€ to a Château Ladignac Cru Bourgeois 2011 for €3. The result is a unique atmosphere: tourists mingling with locals, novices with connoisseurs. As a bonus, the terrace overlooks the city’s Grand Théâtre. A word of warning: in the evening, you might have to queue to get into this popular pitstop on a Bordeaux bar tour.
3 Cours du 30 Juillet
baravin.bordeaux.com
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Aux Quatre Coins du Vin
Just around the corner from the 15th-century Saint-Pierre church in the heart of Bordeaux, this sleek wine and charcuterie bar is a must-visit. It features dispensing machines that allow you to taste the wine you want in the measure you desire (30, 60, or 120ml). The wine list is neatly organized in a heavy leather binder, proudly showcasing over 1,800 wines, including 40 served by the glass that change regularly. Enjoy the top estates as well as wines from lesser-known producers, or delve in deeper at one of the bar’s recently launched masterclasses – the first edition with Château Ausone and the second pouring from the likes of Cos D’Estournel.
8 Rue de la Devise
@aux4coinsduvin
Au Bon Jaja
Even though ‘jaja’ (often used informally and humorously) means ‘plonk’ in French, you won’t be finding low-quality wine here. Behind a storefront with pink neon lights, located just a few metres from the banks of the Garonne, this bar is the perfect place for adventurous souls and natural wine enthusiasts. The walls are adorned with bottles sorted by colour and region (featuring only organic, biodynamic, or natural wines). Enjoy small dishes to share at very reasonable prices.
4 Cour d’Alsace-et-Lorraine
aubonjaja.fr
La Cave de la Gironde
This is the kind of place that gets passed around by word of mouth. Opened 18 months ago in this somewhat offbeat corner of Bordeaux – largely unknown to tourists – La Cave boasts around 300 wine selections; owner Thierry Basbayon has curated an astonishing range of reasonably priced wines. It’s both a wine shop and bar (open Thursday to Saturday evenings), as well as an unpretentious bistro serving French dishes for sharing, such as roasted camembert, deviled eggs, cheese platters, and sausages (open Tuesday to Friday lunchtimes). It looks like something straight out of a dreamy 1970s film set, complete with a Formica counter, chairs, and stools. There’s a large communal table in the centre of the room, accommodating up to a dozen guests.
36 Rue Moulinié
@cavedelagironde
Julo
A cosy wine bar with a lovely terrace, overlooking the Saint-Michel Basilica. Savvy owner Julien Chive (everyone here knows him by his nickname, ‘Julo’) offers up exclusive wines paired with delightful small plates. Blending elements of a wine shop, wine bar, and gourmet grocery store, this spot offers over 700 wines from all regions of France. Expect to find drops from Bordeaux, but also the Rhône, Languedoc, Loire, or Jura, all alongside a curated selection of international offerings. When it comes to the wines of Bordeaux, expect terroir-driven expressions from talented winemakers.
11 Rue des Faures
julobordeaux.com
