If you’re a wine lover, then the wine region of Bordeaux, France, should be on the top of your list! In July, our group of singles enjoyed 7 nights aboard the Uniworld S.S. Bon Voyage sailing from Bordeaux to many wonderful villages within this area.

We began and ended our cruise in the lovely city of Bordeaux, with its lively river-front promenade, where people ride bikes, jog, walk, skateboard and even dance! It was wonderful being docked right in the heart of the action and to be able to use the Uniworld-supplied bikes to ride around town. This city received a major rejuvenation beginning in 1995, when the former mayor set about giving the city a much-needed facelift. He cleaned up the gorgeous Neo-Classical buildings’ blackened façades, pedestrianized key areas and introduced a wireless-tram system. Additionally, the neglected quaysides along the river have been rejuvenated, making Bordeaux, today, the most desirable place to live in France (according to a survey commissioned by the Observatoire du Bonheur in 2015).

Singles Travel International sailed on the Dordogne and the Garonne rivers, visiting wine chateaux such as Chateau de Camensac in the Haut-Medoc and the Chateau Soutard in the Saint Emilion wine appellation. Since 1855, when Napoleon III called for a classification of the Bordeaux vineyards as part of the world’s fair, many wine estates in this region carry the name “Grand Cru Classe” (Great Classified Growth). To date, there are 61 chateaux that meet all the criteria.

Our group was fortunate enough to ramble through this gorgeous countryside, past thousands of hectares of vineyards! The chateaux, each more beautiful than the next, captured our imaginations. Although we weren’t there during the harvest time, we were able to learn about the delicate process of winemaking from the sommeliers at the vineyards. Also, on board our riverboat, the sommelier was excellent at pairing wines (all included!!) with our gourmet meals.

Our week was a week filled with gourmet food and good wine, history and architecture – and new friendships. What better vacation could one ask for?