The colours of its flowing curves vary throughout the day, because everything here is designed (by Anouk Legendre and Nicolas Desmazières) to symbolise wine and environment. Wine as it swirls in the glass, the eddies and backwash of the nearby River Garonne... every detail makes reference to the liquid element. This fluidity and roundness continue inside the building and throughout the tour, which winds around the building to end on a panoramic platform overlooking the city.
Inside, the tours are self-guided, totally immersive and personal. Here, it’s time to put the rational brain to one side and allow yourself to become disorientated. The point of the clearly marked tour route is to allow everyone to wander at their own pace, as the mood takes them and according to their own preferences through the rich and diverse presentations. The audio headset and travel companion guide take you on a personal discovery tour of the vineyard world, the wine making process, the wine story and flavour components (cinnamon, citrus, red fruits, etc.), and the fabulous architectural structures containing the most valuable Ambrosian nectars worthy of Dionysus, the Greek God of Wine himself.
As you progress, you will climb to a height of 35 metres and gain a 360° panoramic view of Bordeaux and a wine tasting on which to feast your eyes and taste buds. Wines from Argentina, Moldavia, Crete, Georgia, Greece and Chile... So much choice!
My advise is to plan on dedicating at least three hours to your visit, or to return several times.
Sorry, but I can’t resist setting you a few posers...
- What did the ancient Egyptian pharmacopoeia use in the preparation of many of its remedies?
- What were the best wines in the Middle Ages?
- Which French writer published the first Paris restaurant guide?
- Who did Louis XV nickname ‘The Prince of the Vines’?
To find the answers, you’ll have to visit the Cité du Vin!
Information
Get here by bus, tram, Batcub water bus or car. Prices begin at €22, including tasting. €9 for 6-17 years old, with a glass of grape juice.
Museum shop on the ground floor. Wines of the world bar and snacks: ‘Latitude 20’ and the ‘7’ panoramic restaurant.
There is also the opportunity to book wine estate tours to perfect your wine knowledge!
Dad on the roam, Olivier has his head in the clouds and his feet firmly on the ground! Always on the look out for new ideas and outings for his young teenagers, he loves out of the ordinary experiences that will appeal to both young and old. Ready for a family treasure hunt across Nouvelle-Aquitaine ?
