La Cité du Vin
This June Bordeaux is unveiling its hotly anticipated international wine museum, La Cité du Vin, which promises to be the ‘Guggenheim’ of wine. The project – nearly five years in the making, will not only further confirm Bordeaux as the leading wine region in the world, but also bring a whole new audience to the area and its wine.
Home to industry, small businesses, water activities and the facilities of the Grand Port of Bordeaux, Bassins is an area currently in flux, but ideal for the location of what will be the world’s most important centre devoted to everything to do with wine. And as the world’s leading wine region, there’s no better place for it than Bordeaux!
Devised by Anouk Legendre architects and Nicolas Desmazières at XTU agency, it has been designed to evoke the love of wine and its liquid element. The fluidity is mirrored in the building’s curves and there’s no surprise that the building appears to resemble a giant wine decanter. Its metallic surface will not only beautifully mirror the colours of the changing seasons (much as the vineyard do), but also the hours of the day as the sun and its surroundings will reflect on its surface. Inside visitors will be able to embark on a journey through wine – from its history and culture to science and new technologies within its huge cavernous belly – a myriad of arches that resemble the hull of a ship, reinforcing its association with liquid, water and the River Garonne.
With no permanent collection, visitors will explore the world of wine via a trail that will take them through an immersive and sensory experience of 20 different themes, from the winemaking process to tasting. The visit includes the travel companion, a free innovative tool available in eight languages and the access to La Cité du Vin’s Belvedere, where visitors will discover a 360° view of Bordeaux whilst tasting a glass of wine (50 ml). With various objectives in mind, including educative, touristic and cultural, La Cité du Vin is inviting tourists to learn everything there is to know about the wine world, from its deep-rooted history and heritage, to its cultural dimensions both in the region of Bordeaux and on the world stage. This wine journey will include the realms of geology, science, religion, mythology and art to tell the story of wine, and how it has shaped and inspired the lives of men and women directly involved in the industry, or those who just enjoy a glass of wine.
As the ultimate wine experience, La Cité du Vin will act as a ‘gateway to the vineyards’ of Bordeaux and to the world of wine.
La Cité du Vin will open on the 1st June 2016, for more info click here.
