Visiting La Cité du Vin Museum in Bordeaux, a pioneer in wine tourism

Thanks to an invitation from the Gironde Tourism Office, we had the opportunity to discover the new and improved permanent exhibiton at La Cité du Vin museum in Bordeaux.

Opened in 2016, the museum was and still remains a one-of-its-kind in the world of wine tourism. It covers prehistory to the modern day, and does a deep-dive on wineries closer to home, such as here in the Médoc, while also spanning winemaking across all corners of the world such as Peru and its innovative irrigation techniques, or Japan’s hundred year old family-run vineyards.

The latest in technology is combined with this broad scope of historical and geographical insight to create immersive and spectacular exhibitons which really go beyond just teaching visitors about wine and vinification.

Aroma exhibit using bell jars

Some of our highlights included the sensory area, where you can smell from glass jars the different aromas present in classic Bordeaux red blends, such as coffee beans, red berry jam and even leather gloves.

We also enjoyed the light show shaped as a grapevine and designed to represent the plant’s annual cycle. This use of lighting to show the plant’s growth, for example a glittering sunlight effect portraying photosynthesis, had an almost magical quality.

Alongside the permanent exhibition there is also an extensive wine cellar, a library, conference rooms for tasting and a rooftop bar where you can enjoy a complimentary glass of wine after your visit and take in the 360 degree view of Bordeaux and the Garonne river.

Whether you are already a wine connoisseur or know nothing at all about it, this museum will immediately immerse you in its mesmorising world of wine. Here at Château Fontesteau we would definitely recommend a visit.

If you want to discover more about La Cité du Vin, check out their website: