Bordeaux pleasures: a gourmand’s guide to tax-free gourmet souvenirs

Bordeaux is world-renowned for its vineyards and a remarkable gastronomic culture. From artisanal foie gras to luxurious caviar and heritage pastries, the city offers gourmet treasures worth taking home, especially when you can claim a VAT refund with Zapptax.

Here is your curated guide to Bordeaux’s most irresistible edible souvenirs, and how to bring them back tax-free.

Wine first, naturally: 

While grand crus from Médoc and Saint-Émilion steal the spotlight, Bordeaux’s city wine shops offer a more personal experience. At L’Intendant or Badie, you’ll find rare bottles, half-formats and beautifully packaged wines ideal for gifting, sometimes impossible to find outside France.

Look for:

• Crémant de Bordeaux for a sparkling surprise,
• Sauternes to pair with foie gras,
• Limited editions or estate boutique cuvées.
  

Tax-free tip: bottled wines are eligible for VAT refund as long as they are unopened and purchased from a boutique issuing proper invoices. Ask for an invoice under the name Zapptax and upload it to the app.

Foie gras & southwest specialties

Bordeaux borders Gascony and Périgord, lands of foie gras and rustic delicacies. Shops such as Maison Dubernet and Laffite Foie Gras offer premium duck terrines, confits and magret séché. These gourmet tins and vacuum-packed specialties travel well and make exceptional gifts.

Tax-free tip: Foie gras in sealed packaging qualifies for tax-free shopping, ideal for combining with a sweet Sauternes.

Caviar d’Aquitaine: a local luxury

Less known than wine but just as prestigious, caviar d’Aquitaine is a rising star. Visit Sturia in Bordeaux to taste and purchase tins sourced from local sturgeon farms.

For travellers, caviar is one of the most rewarding tax-free products: discreet, luxurious, and eligible for VAT refund when purchased in sealed form.

How Zapptax makes it tax-free

• Shop as usual: when you buy your items, simply ask the store to issue the invoice in the name of Zapptax.
• Store everything in one place: take a photo of the invoice and upload it into the Zapptax app.
• Validate before you leave: when you exit the EU, whether by plane, ferry, or car, present your digital tax-free form, generated on the app, at customs for validation.
• Get your money back: once validated, your VAT refund is processed to your bank account or PayPal.

Bring home the Art de Vivre

In Bordeaux, every flavour tells a story: from the elegance of a Sauternes to the intensity of caviar. With Zapptax, you can turn these souvenirs into savings.