Villa Gabaye is part of a working vineyard and winery in the Bordeaux region of south-west France, just a 5-minute drive from the historic town of Blaye. Bordeaux Airport (65km) is around an hour away.
The house is part of a working vineyard set amongst the vines in the outskirts of Blaye. The domaine is located just off a country road (no pavement) leading to a large supermarket only 1km away which you can walk/cycle/drive to passing various businesses en route (including an Italian restaurant as well as a bakery and a takeaway pizza kiosk near the supermarket roundabout).
Back to the wine estate, the grape vines are in clay-limestone soil, typical of the region. Traditionally, the vineyard produces Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. In recent years, the vineyard has diversified and now grows white grapes to produce Roussanne, Semillon and Chardonnay, offering a broader range. Take a wine tour to see the wine being made, observing this intriguing process from grape to bottle.
The wine estate is also home to Two Origins Distillery, producing whiskey. The name derives from combining the company's heritage; French and Irish. Two Origins Distillery produces a unique whiskey that combines the French taste with the traditional whiskey techniques of Ireland: the triple-distilled cask-aged Irish whiskey.
Blaye is your local town, home to the UNESCO World Heritage site, Citadelle de Blaye. Designed by the celebrated French military engineer Vauban, Citadelle de Blaye is a fortress offering panoramas over the Gironde estuary. Built in the 17th century, the citadel of Blaye had 1.5km of ramparts, over 30 hectares of fortifications and 1,500 soldiers occupying the fort!
Spend some relaxing time strolling through the citadel's narrow streets and meet the craftsmen, restaurateurs and shopkeepers who dwell in the once-fortified fortress. Tours are also available for those who want to delve deeper into history and enter the underground passages below the surface. The town of Blaye also offers cafés, restaurants, and shops for you to enjoy, and all just a bike ride or short car journey from the villa.
Travelling further afield, take a day to visit the picturesque village of Saint-Émilion (53km), a medieval gem located in another part of the famous Bordeaux wine region. Surrounded by UNESCO vineyards, Saint-Émilion has two thousand years of history emanating from its elegant architecture and monuments. Its golden bricks shimmer in the sunlight as you wind through the village, exploring historic vineyards, cafes, and shops.
Spend an afternoon feeling refreshed and head to the coast. The southwest of France is home to the Aquitaine coastline, the longest sandy coastline in Europe, stretching 230 kilometres! The charming seaside resort of Royan (85km) is around 90 minutes by car or head to Blaye and take the car ferry across to the Médoc peninsular, then continue towards the picturesque lakes, pine forests and sandy Atlantic coastline (a paradise for surfers) near the villages of Lacanau (45km) or Hourtin (47km).
The Médoc peninsula is another great wine destination - visit the villages and châteaux of Margaux and Pauillac, potter around their village markets and savour the fine cuisine this region has to offer. Further more, don't miss wonderful oyster shacks overlooking the estuary!
