Delicious and Beautiful: Bordeaux is Latest Air Canada Destination

The tasty wines and delicious scenery of Bordeaux are closer than ever for Canadians.

Air Canada on Wednesday announced the introduction of new seasonal Montreal and Bordeaux service between June 15 and Sept. 15, 2019. Flights will operate four days a week with Boeing 737 MAX 8 and are timed to optimize connectivity to Air Canada's extensive North American network, including major cities in Canada and along the US east coast including New York and Boston, as well as from Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas.

Special introductory fares start as low as $798 round-trip, all in, and tickets are now available for purchase at aircanada.com or through travel agents.

"As the only network carrier to offer non-stop transatlantic service to Bordeaux, the addition of a fifth destination in France further enhances Air Canada's competitive position in the French market," said Lucie Guillemette, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Air Canada. "Our four weekly flights are the most offered than any other airline between Montreal and Bordeaux, providing travellers unique access to the famed wine growing region and the popular Nouvelle-Aquitaine market. In addition to playing a special role in connecting Canada with many French-speaking communities around the world, our Montreal hub is increasingly popular among U.S. travelers who appreciate seamless connections to international destinations on Air Canada."

Bordeaux has become one of the hottest cities in Europe the last few years, thanks in part to a new, high-speed rail line that whisks passengers to Paris in just a little over two hours. It's a marvellous city for wandering about, with wonderfully atmospheric streets such as Rue Notre Dame. The Notre Dame church is definitely worth a look, but I enjoy simply strolling up and down the road, checking out the sidewalk cafes and the typical French apartment buildings, many of which feature small balconies with black wrought iron railings and small displayers of flowers.

The Great Bell, or Grosse Cloche de Bordeaux, is a popular spot for Instragram fans. It's in a lively part of town, with tons of cool shops and funky bars. The best views are from Rue Saint James.

The Bordeaux city fathers have done a remarkable job along the Garonne River, transforming the area with remarkable parks, open spaces and fountains that stretch on for miles. You'll also find skateboard parks and plenty of places to sit and people watch.

The Cite du Vin is a marvellous museum that tells the story of wine through the ages. You can take sniff tests and find out about different grape varieties through a series of engaging, interactive displays. Better yet, go upstairs to the tasting bar for great views of the city and tasty wines from around the world. The ceiling features thousands of suspended bottles of (sadly empty) bottles of wine.

Some of the top vineyards of the world, including Chateau Margaux and Lafite Rothschild, are only a short distance away from the city of Bordeaux. One great way to see some of the world's best wineries and have a great travel experience at the same time is with a river cruise through the region. I did one last year with AMA Waterways and had a great time. They had a California winemaker on board, who talked about the differences between European and New World wines and also offered tastings.

St. Emilion is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. A centre of Bordeaux wine-making, you'll find a gazillion shops selling local wines, mostly red blends. There also are tons of restaurants and cafes and shops geared to wine products. If you can, arrange a tour of the Monolithic Church, which is carved out of the underground and is a tremendous - and slightly spooky - place to visit.