On June 1 2016, a brand new wine museum opened in Bordeaux. La Cité du Vin is unique, extraordinary and quite brilliant.
Not entirely surprisingly, the museum is dedicated to a subject close to the heart of Bordeaux – it’s all about wine! Bordeaux is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site, was voted Best European Tourist Destination 2015, and the capital of the Aquitaine region. It’s also often called the capital of wine – and it just got better as the doors to what is likely the best wine museum in the world, just opened.
If you’re a wine fan then this museum is going wet your whistle with its sensory experiences which are centred entirely around wine. Not just French wine but wine from around the world though as you’d expect, much of it is dedicated to France where wine is a living piece of French history and culture, especially here in Bordeaux, the largest fine wine region in France. But you don’t have to be a wine fan or even know anything about wine to enjoy this museum.
Architecture of La Cité du Vin
The building in which the museum is located is an architectural masterpiece, appearing almost as if anchored on the banks of the might Garonne River. It’s bold, shiny exterior is more than eye-catching, made from glass panels, perforated aluminium, at 180ft high it’s not modest but it is memorable. The architect intended for the design to resemble a knotted grapevine, its roots in a glass base and the grand curve is reminiscent of the swirl in a glass. It’s location too is relevant, it was the Garonne river with its easy access to the trade routes of the Atlantic ocean, that first gave Bordeaux wine visibility overseas.
Themed Exhibitions at the Bordeaux Museum of Wine
No less impressive is the inside of this incredible museum. 140 sq. feet spread over 10 floors, this is an immense homage to wine.
You’ll find high tech, innovative museography galore with giant screens projecting a flight through the wine landscapes of the world as you take in a global vineyard tour.
Interactive globes show the economy of wine, tablets reveal the world of winegrowers, their profession and secrets of wine making. Step aboard a 50 seat boat that celebrates the history of wine merchants, giant bottles of wine, a 35m high viewing platform of the museum with fabulous views over the city and vineyard and a whole lot more – including a wine tasting session included in the ticket price.
Wine workshops, a cultural venue with shows and events, boutique, restaurant and wine bar – this new museum makes for a fascinating visit.
