When we were in Bordeaux visiting our brother, he took us to La Cité du Vin, which is essentially a museum on all things wine. Our brother, Ethan, is a sommelier so this is basically his Disneyland (where ours involves princesses and mice). Which is fitting because the museum, which opened last summer, has been described as a wine theme park. Although the only ride you participate in is the elevator up to the top floor where you can grab a complimentary glass of wine and take in the spectacular views of the city.
After purchasing your tickets, I recommend that you start your visit by heading straight up to The Belvedere on the 8th floor to start your visit by tasting a glass of wine from one of the most famous wine regions in the world.
Along with the magnificent panoramic views, I couldn’t stop staring at the chandelier on the ceiling, which was made from thousands of wine bottles.
This would be a great space to rent out for a private party or event, if you ever find yourself planning a party in Bordeaux, France.
After you’ve enjoyed your glass of wine, head back to the ground floor to visit the exhibits.
Pro tip- be sure to grab an audio guide. We didn’t, thinking we’re with a professional wine expert who can explain to us everything we would want to know about what we were seeing. What we didn’t realize is that the museum is heavily interactive, and many of the exhibits require you to hold up your guide to a sensor in order for you to interact.
Each exhibit was very informative and we had so much fun playing while learning. It truly is like a children’s museum only with an adult topic.
The gift shop of the museum is exactly what you would expect- a wine store! They sell wine from 80 different countries. Ethan couldn’t help picking up a bottle or two.
When in Bordeaux, a visit to La Cité du Vin can’t be missed. Plan to spend 2-3 hours here.
-Ash xx