Bordeaux Fête Le Vin – Top 5 reasons to visit
Have you ever heard about Bordeaux Fête le vin? Bordeaux Wine Festival is back for 2023 from the 22nd to the 25th June, and is better than ever! An international festival brings together wine, culture and gastronomy lovers from all over the world to taste the region’s best wines in a cosmopolitan setting. Discover our top 5 reasons to visit Europe’s largest wine festival.
Bordeaux wine tastings
There are endless opportunities to discover and taste Bordeaux wines and to meet the winemakers from some of the most exciting wineries in the world. Anyone who wants to get to know the quality, authenticity and variety of Bordeaux wines has the unique opportunity to do that thanks to the “Pass dégustation” – a tasting pass that includes: 1 tasting glass with glass holder, 11 wine tastings in the pavilions and 1 workshop at the Bordeaux Wine School pavilion and other perks from the festival partners.
Discover the tall ships
The history of wine is inseparable from the nautical history of Bordeaux. The tall ships are back this year and you have four days to discover these legendary sailboats, stroll on their decks and meet their crews. Don’t miss the Belem, a rare 19th-century vessel, that returns for the 2023 edition of Bordeaux Fête le Vin! It is the last of the great French merchant ships of the 19th century still in navigation. This three-masted barque has lived no less than five lives, and changed nationality three times before returning to its origins after 120 years of adventures.
She made her maiden voyage as a cargo ship in 1896, transporting sugar from the West Indies, cocoa, and coffee from Brazil and French Guiana to Nantes, France. She was sold in 1914 to Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster, who converted her to his private luxurious pleasure yacht. In 1922 she became the property of Sir Ernest Guinness, of the Guinness family. Later in 1951 she was sold to the Venezian count Vittorio Cini and used as a sail training ship until 1965, when she was considered too old for further use and was moored at the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice. Finally, in 1979, she came back to her home port under tow by a French seagoing tug, flying the French flag after 65 years. Fully restored to her original condition, she began a new career as a sail training ship. It is listed as a historical monument.
Food and wine pairings
Not only can you taste excellent Bordeaux wines, but you will also find lots of local delicacies to indulge in! Every year, visitors to Bordeaux Fête le Vin enjoy the regional culinary specialities offered along the quays. A complete catering offer that takes gourmets to the four corners of the region – from the Bassin d’Arcachon to the Basque Country, via the Landes and the Corrèze. So many flavours to be found at the producers and craftsmen in the food trucks and the bodegas to savour the food and wine pairings.
Learn something new about wines at the Bordeaux wine school
The heart of the event is the pavilion of the École du Vin de Bordeaux (the internationally renowned Bordeaux wine school), particularly popular with those interested in learning more about wine. Numerous workshops and courses are offered here that are intended to bring you closer to the art of wine tasting.
Watch the unique drone show
This is one of the great novelties of the 2023 edition – 400 drones will illuminate the skies of Bordeaux during two evening shows on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 June.
What’s more – there will be art exhibitions, concerts, live music, dance performances and games.
Visiting the festival is also a great reason to discover the city of Bordeaux or to visit some of the numerous vineyards.
Find more information about the festival here.
