Maison Meritage

Voyage. Vin. Vie.

Travel with intention. Savor with curiosity. Return transformed. Curated immersive journeys through France from the team behind Meritage Restaurant.

Spring 2026 Tour Our Story
Our Vision

Practicing "Joie de Vivre"

How do you make a difference in a community that has been there for you, and your vision, and the "why" behind what you do? You dig in, and dig deeper.

We truly strive to offer more than a commerce-driven experience for the sake of the almighty dollar. We are striving to answer the challenges in our community. We are looking for ways to use our resources to strengthen us, serve others, and ultimately provide us all with truly purpose-driven work.

The house of Meritage — Maison Meritage — is concerned with how we can make a difference, for and in the community we serve.

Immersion, Not Tourism

We don't visit France — we live it. Every journey is designed for depth, not distance.

Tourism checks boxes. Immersion changes you. We stay in neighborhoods, not hotel districts. We shop at the same boulangerie the locals do. We linger over three-hour lunches because that's how it's done.

Our itineraries are crafted to slow down, not speed up — to understand the rhythm of a place rather than photograph it and move on. When you return home, you won't just remember where you went. You'll remember how it felt to belong there.

Experiential Education

Our staff travels with you, learning alongside you. Your trip directly supports their professional growth.

Every Maison Meritage journey includes members of our restaurant team — cooks, servers, sommeliers — gaining firsthand experience in the places that inspire our menu and our hospitality philosophy.

This isn't a perk. It's the mission. When you book with us, you're investing in the continuing education of people who have dedicated their careers to hospitality. They return transformed, and that transformation flows directly into every plate, every glass, every guest experience at Meritage.

Community First

Every decision we make strengthens the bonds between our restaurant, our travelers, and the places we visit.

Maison Meritage was born from relationships — with our guests in Saint Paul, with the winemakers and chefs we've come to know in France, with a team that has grown together over decades.

We don't partner with tour operators or mass-market vendors. We work with family estates, neighborhood bistros, and local guides who share our values. The money you spend stays in communities, supports small producers, and creates connections that last long after the trip ends.

This is not tourism — this is immersion

Now Accepting Applications

Spring 2026 Bordeaux

April 8–16, 2026 · 9 Days / 8 Nights

Witness bud break in the vineyards, immerse in old town Bordeaux, and enjoy the Atlantic coast. From rustic family wineries to première-growth châteaux — see the regions, taste the terroir.

Paris → Bordeaux TGV Saint-Émilion Private Tastings Arcachon Bay Max 8 Travelers
View Full Itinerary Apply Now

"The meaning of life is to find your gift.
The purpose of life is to give it away."

— Pablo Picasso

Ways to Travel

Choose Your Journey

Join our intimate small group tours. Or chart your own course with our insider knowledge.

Small Group Tours

Our signature twice-yearly journeys to France. Spring and Fall departures, maximum 8 travelers per group.

This is hyper-small-group travel, purposefully. Two programs run simultaneously: Couples travel with Chef Russell Klein for intimate culinary experiences, while Solo Travelers explore with Desta Marée, wine director and storyteller.

Our focus is Bordeaux and the Arcachon coast — Saint-Émilion, Sauternes, the Atlantic dunes, and the vibrant city itself. We end with a full day in Paris, giving you the option to continue your adventure or depart feeling like you truly experienced the city.

Every journey includes Meritage staff members gaining direct experiential education — your trip supports their professional growth.

View Spring 2026 Itinerary →

Curated Itineraries

Can't join a group? Purchase our insider knowledge — we know exactly what you must see and what to avoid.

After years of scouting, tasting, and building relationships across the Bordeaux region, we've learned which bistros are worth the detour, which châteaux welcome visitors with warmth, and where to find the experiences that don't appear in guidebooks.

Pas Perdu — our travel planning portal — gives you access to this insider knowledge. Detailed recommendations, reservation contacts, and the small details that make the difference between a trip and a journey.

Explore Pas Perdu →

Medical Tourism

Coming November 2026 — curated medical tourism experiences to Istanbul, Türkiye with trusted partners.

Türkiye has emerged as a world leader in medical tourism, combining exceptional healthcare with rich cultural experiences. Istanbul offers internationally accredited hospitals, highly trained specialists, and procedures at a fraction of US costs.

We're developing curated experiences that combine necessary procedures with the care, comfort, and cultural immersion that define all Maison Meritage journeys. Launching November 2026.

The Team

Experiential Education

Maison Meritage brings the hospitality industry, as a profession, to life with true experiential education. Hands-on experiences for our team to understand European hospitality, cooking from open-air marchés, with assignments — and more.

Each tour is supported by Meritage staff members traveling to France to gain direct experiential education. So, every trip you book with us directly supports the continuing education of our team.

Join Us in France
Begin Your Journey

Travel is an Investment in Self

Discovery for the mind, spirit, and palette. Meet us in France.

Apply for Spring 2026 Visit Meritage Restaurant