A test that will reinvent your holidays in France

Unthinkable, for a wine expert like your good self, to visit Bordeaux without “nosing” around the Cité du Vin. This is one of the most daring wine tourism projects to be found anywhere in the world, a thoroughly comprehensive tour of the globe’s vineyards. The building itself, with its fluid lines, covers 3,000 m2 and features twenty themed areas for the permanent tour alone. The thought that has gone into the layout and design is self-evident: it is both innovative and sensory, and major work has been dedicated to the digital and interactive technology, such as 3D imagery and distributing odours. Remarkably, the Cité du Vin puts the emphasis on the wine regions of the entire world, from Kazakhstan to Iran, and from Australia to Chile — over 85 countries in total! All this will be become even clearer when you reach the seventh floor: here you can select one of the cellar’s 10,000 bottles (two-thirds of which are produced outside France) from the 25 wines of the world available for tasting (included in the entry ticket). The Cité du Vin is located in the old forge quartier of the great seaport of Bordeaux. It is accessed along the quays towards the locks on the Garonne, which makes for a lovely post-prandial stroll. The complex is also less than 10 minutes by tram from the city centre, with its own Cité du Vin stop. The visit to the permanent exhibition includes access to the Cité’s belvedere for a tasting together with a “travel companion”: this is an innovative digital tool that triggers the various multi-media presentations on the tour. When all is said and done, it’s an unmissable experience!

Info and reservations

On the ground floor of the Cité du Vin: a brasserie, snack bar and wine bar rolled into one. Serves world cuisine with a Bocs’ du Chef set menu at lunchtime and a brasserie menu in the evening. Fifty wines to chose from by the glass selected from the Cité du Vin’s cellar. Latitude 20 is a good place to take a break during your visit to the Cité.

In Bordeaux, near the Cité du Vin, this four-star, eco-labelled hotel has 12 rooms overlooking the Garonne. The décor is comfortable and refined, a mix of wood and leather. At Les Tables Vatel, you can choose between the intimate surroundings of the restaurant or the bistro area, with fresh, local and modern cuisine.

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