La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux’s as the ultimate wine experience
A wine lover’s journey through Bordeaux’s iconic museum and tasting experience 🍷
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If you love wine (or just like drinking it), La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux is a must-visit.
This isn’t an average museum, it is a truly immersive and interactive journey through the world of wine, combining history, culture, and – tasting. 🍷
Since Bordeaux is the beating heart of French wine country, it’s clear why La Cité du Vin was built here. But it doesn’t just focus on Bordeaux – it explores wine traditions from around the globe.
Beautiful architecture
Before you even walk inside, La Cité du Vin makes an impression. The building itself is amazing, with a swirling, curvy design that mimics the way wine swirls in a glass. Or a giant wine decanter. It's sleek, modern, and a striking contrast to Bordeaux’s historic cityscape.
Designed by architects Anouk Legendre and Nicolas Desmazières, the structure is meant to represent the Garonne River, which played a huge role in Bordeaux’s wine trade.
Inside the museum
The heart of La Cité du Vin is on the second floor, home to The Permanent Exhibition, an interactive and sensory experience. You’ll experience:
the 8,000-year story of winemaking, from ancient civilizations to modern-day vineyards
engaging your senses by smelling different wine aromas and guessing what they are
digital screens let you “fly” over vineyards across the globe, from Napa to New Zealand
learning how winemakers blend different grapes and how soil, climate, and tradition shape the wines we drink.
Even if you’re not a wine expert, the museum keeps things fun and approachable – you leave feeling like you’ve learned something new without being overwhelmed by facts.
A global wine tour
To me, one of the coolest aspects of the museum is that it presents wine cultures from all over the world, and not just France.
You’ll find exhibits on 8.000 years of Georgian winemaking (have you tried Georgian wine?), South American vineyards, and even ancient Greek wine traditions. It’s a reminder that wine is a universal language, and every culture adds its unique twist.
Wine tasting with a view
Perhaps the best spot in the museum is The Belvedere, the museum’s rooftop wine bar.
It’s located on the eighth floor and offers panoramic views of Bordeaux and the Garonne River. Each museum ticket includes a complimentary glass of wine from a rotating selection of wines around the world.
Sipping wine while overlooking the city? Absolute perfection 🥂🍷
Workshops and tastings
The museum also hosts wine-tasting workshops and masterclasses, so if you want to take your experience a step further, La Cité du Vin is ready for you.
Some highlights are wine and food pairing, Bordeaux wines 101, or tasting aromas and flavors.
Obviously, La Cité du Vin is more than just a museum – it’s an experience that celebrates everything we love about wine.
Please hit the 🧡 button and leave a comment if you enjoy this article to help others find it. Thank you!
This publication will stay free forever, but if you feel I deserve a cup of matcha 🍵 here and there, then please buy me some - the next drink’s on me! ☕
For more things French, check out my two other posts on cultural sites in France:
The Elegance of the Trianon Estate: Versailles Beyond the Palace: UNESCO sites in France: Palace and Park of Versailles (visited July 2022)
Musée d'Orsay in Paris: A railway station turned into Impressionist art haven
Plus, January of my “2025 Calendar: 12 Countries in 12 Months” is dedicated to France and its cultural gems.
Very cool! The outer and inner architecture and design is fabulous and it seems like a unique experience in terms of learning about wine globally. Great post!
Although I've been to Bordeaux several times, I haven't visited "La Cité du Vin" yet. Gabi gives a lovely overview of her experience there, with great photos! Cheers!