La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux: Visitor's Guide

On May 31, all eyes will be on Bordeaux for the grand opening of La Cité du Vin. True to our wine-making heritage, the event is already shaping up to be exceptional and promises to be a wonderful showcase for French wine tourism.

Seven years of work since the launch of the La Cité du Vin project in Bordeaux

Conceived as early as 1995 by the current mayor of Bordeaux, Alain Juppé, the Cité du Vin project was officially launched in May 2009 with the aim of promoting the cultural, universal, and living heritage of wine. With the support of Sylvie Cazes and Philippe Massol, the mayor of Bordeaux has gradually brought together numerous public and private stakeholders around the project. The project also benefits from the support of two renowned ambassadors: the world-renowned wine critic Robert Parker and the French artist Pierre Arditi, a passionate wine enthusiast. With funding secured, construction on the future Cité du Vin began in early 2014 and is scheduled for completion by the end of March 2016. Total project cost: 81 million euros.

The colossal structure of the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux

In January 2014, construction began on the foundations of the future Cité du Vin on the banks of the Garonne River, in the Bassins à Flot district. Designed by a Parisian architectural firm, the building features a modern design with curves inspired by the shape of a vine, the swirling motion of wine in a glass, and the eddies of the Garonne. To define the building’s silhouette, the façade features numerous glass and aluminum panels and is adorned with golden reflections, evoking the pale stone of Bordeaux’s buildings. With a spire rising nearly 55 meters high, the building is divided into 10 levels and covers a total area of 13,350 square meters.
The Cité du Vin will rely on this impressive architecture to promote French wine tourism internationally. The site’s attendance goal: 450,000 visitors from around the world are expected each year.

The wide range of visitor experiences offered at the Cité du Vin

Just like the building itself, the visitor experience promises to be unique and surprising. Equipped with an interactive tour guide, visitors will be able to explore 20 permanent themed areas dedicated to wine. The tour includes: projections on a giant screen, interactive globes, a touch-screen table, 3D images, tasting workshops, multisensory experiences… a wealth of activities that will immerse visitors in a unique journey of discovery through wine culture and civilizations. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a world wine bar, a tapas bar, a fast-food area, a world wine shop, a souvenir shop, and a panoramic restaurant with an exceptional view of the city of Bordeaux. La Cité du Vin has everything it takes to attract numerous visitors and cement Bordeaux’s status as a must-visit destination for wine lovers. Scheduled to open to the public on June 1, 2016.

La Cité du Vin: A wine tourism hub focused on vineyards

Beyond the interactive and innovative tour it offers, the Cité du Vin aims to become a true wine tourism hub focused on the vineyards. Expanding the range of new wine tourism experiences, the Bordeaux-Métropole Tourist Office will occupy part of the building’s ground floor and offer excursions to nearby vineyards and to many other wine regions around the world. To extend the wine tourism experience beyond the Cité du Vin, visitors will have access to a shuttle bus service as well as a 90-meter-long pier, serving as a departure and arrival point for numerous excursions to and from the vineyards. The Cité du Vin promises to be a wonderful showcase for wine tourism and paves the way for the development of new initiatives in the vineyards.