By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny
The upgraded Cité du Vin.
We were among some happy few who were able to discover the “Cité du Vin” new look early this month. Seven years after opening the successful wine museum set on the Gironde riverbank in Bordeaux has been reinvented to welcome visitors for an enhanced experience.
It was a sunny and cold morning when we got there. We were once again struck by the elegance of the bold architecture of this modern building. It is the result of a fruitful Franco-British collaboration between two architecture firms and it soon became one of Bordeaux’s most famous landmarks. It definitely played a major role in the rehabilitation of this former industrial area that is today the right place to open trendy bars, restaurants or hotels, as well as other cultural spaces.
With the help of digital and interactive technologies visitors can relive the great adventure of wine through time and space. History, landscapes, wine growing, trade or culture… all the different aspects of wine come to light. Eighteen theme spaces bring to life this human adventure. Whatever your age or background you can personalise your visit using your personal visit companion. This handset includes a screen that may receive tactile input and also has an earphone. After choosing one of the nine proposed languages you can opt for a theme visit of your choice or follow the main circuit. A WIFI connection automatically sets off your device in each of the 18 spaces of the exhibition and you get all the info while interacting with different devices.
Videos, big screens, immersive experience, touch walls, olfactory testing, expert interviews or 360-degree omnidirectional screen allow you to learn plenty about the world of wine without being bored. The history of wine since Antiquity, vineyards around the world, day-to-day life of a wine grower, how and why a vine stock grows, varieties through the globe, best ways to serve, drink and enjoy wine… you will know everything you need after only a 90-minute visit.
The visit ends in the “Belvedere”, the wine tasting space of the museum set on the top floor of the building. The wine tasting is included in your entrance ticket and you will have one glass of a wine of your choice enjoying the panoramic view over the river and Bordeaux. Sommeliers help visitors make their choice among a selection of wines from about fifty different international vineyards. Red, white or rosé, dry or sweet, organic, sparkling… make your choice. Young ones or those willing to stay sober can have a glass of organic grape juice. The “Cité du Vin” also organises wine tasting workshops proposing a tailor made discovery of a wine international region, type of wine, terroir or food and wine pairing.
The “Cité du Vin” also has three different restaurants. Light snacks at the wine bar, a casual brasserie proposing 50 different wines by the glass and a gastronomic restaurant highlighting local food and an impressive wine list with over 500 different wines from the whole world. There is also a cellar where you can buy wine. It actually is the largest wine shop in Europe with over 14,000 bottles in stock. You can make your choice among 800 different vineyards from 70 wine regions over the world. Quite unique!
More info on the Cité du Vin website: www.laciteduvin.com/en
Text ©Annick Dournes
Photos ©Frederic de Poligny
