On an expedition in the Bordelais and the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux

In April 2018 we had the pleasure to visit and to discover the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux, on our cycling trip with our lovely group from Brazil.

Thanks to its gentile clime it is possible to cycling through the Bordelais the whole year through. Although if the grapevines are not abundantly green yet, we can already see the buds on the vines. The work of the winemakers during the winter and the right cut, as well as the fixation of the young vine has come to an end and the new season can begin. A good wine doesn’t arise just in the barrels, but already on the vineyards.

The vineyard of Bordeaux counts 60 controlled appellations on 119.000 ha and 90 % of the wine is red. It includes five different areas between the rivers Garonne and Dordogne, which are called: Medoc, Graves, Entre Deux mers, Rive Droite and Sauternais.

Every single area is worth to visit for an entire day. And thanks to that we have the possibility to have a tasting every day, to discover the variety and diversity of the wine. But watch out: in the big châteaux the tasting is only possible with a guided tour and with registration.

During this trip we had the chance to visit and to taste the wine of the very famous vineyards Château Giscours (Grand Cru Classé – Margaux), Château la Dominique and Château Soutard (Grands Crus Classés de St Emilion) and Château d’Yquem (Sauternes). Also if you are not interested in visiting and tasting you can still enjoy the beautiful park of the last château. It is a wonderful place to stroll around and to enjoy this beautiful area.

Our adventures trip ends with a guided tour through the breathtaking city of Bordeaux. Amazing buildings and the impressive river show the beauty of this interesting city. A new highlight is the La Cité du Vin, which opened its doors in 2016.

In case you visit Bordeaux we are absolutely recommending this place. It is 13.350 m² large and spread on 10 floors.

The „classic“ entrance price is 20 € per person. With this ticket you can visit the 2^nd and the 10^th floor (Belvedere) and a wine tasting. Expositions that are changing frequently are accessible for a slight increase.

You can calculate approximately 3 hours for your visit, preferably in the morning without many other visitors. It is a journey of senses, informative and instructive. You are discovering the wine, with its history and its development, the history of Bordeaux and its wine, as well as other wine worldwide. It is also interesting for children – of course without a wine tasting…

You can be sure that there will be not even one single moment of boredom!

At the end you are reaching the Belvedere on the 10^th floor and enjoy the view over Bordeaux, relaxed with a glass of wine.

You are leaving this place, full of memories and new knowledge on wine and with the desire to know more and to discover other wine areas in France.

In case you got a little bit hungry, you can just cross the street. Enter Les Halles du Bacalan: here you can buy and taste regional products. Would you like to taste a chicken from the de Marauli or a salmon tart from Requins Marteaux, with a glass of „Entre deux mers“.

So did we whet your appetite? Then let’s go and come with us! Klick here to either go on a self-guided trip or contact us on info@franceavelo.com to go on a tailored tour like our 4 Brazilian guests, where we fulfill all your wishes.

*Consumption of alcohol can endanger your health