The water mirror in Bordeaux
In the universe that is wine, planet Bordeaux intends to shine more than ever before, over the next few years. The eponymous city wants its very wine to become associated with its atmosphere and attractiveness.
Everyone is contributing economically, whether civic or private enterprise. They are merging their efforts to make of Bordeaux an even more important nucleus than it already is in all wine matters, its influence extending well beyond our hexagonal region. In particular, many initiatives have sprung up over these last years to attract visitors to the vineyards.
One has only to look at Vinexpo, the undisputed meeting place for professionals in the wine trade for over 30 years. It takes place every two years and welcomes some 50,000 professionals. They come from 148 countries to Bordeaux and its surrounding chateaux. Cannes may have its film festival, celebrating the 7th art with a panoply of stars, paparazzi and brouhaha, as the cinema’s greatest marketplace. But Vinexpo at Bordeaux is a more sedate affair, though equally renowned in its trade. It celebrates wine with priority being given to business, parties being more intimate and much less star-struck.
Wine feast in Bordeaux with Wine tour booking
Talking of festivals, however, festivity is something that is inherent in the wine world and you can be sure we don’t miss out. Every year there’s a “fête du vin” at the end of June (http://www.bordeaux-fete-le-vin.com/) and the whole city celebrates over the weekend. Creative images of wine as icon are to be seen everywhere. This year, it will be even more ‘totemic’ than usual because in the four corners of the city you’ll be able to admire giant bottles of wine, each a mighty Colossus rivalling the city’s monumental Girondin Column. We’ll be back to tell you more about this festival which reunites chateaux, other producers and wine-lovers in a most convivial ambience.
Another example of how wine is helping in the development of Bordeaux as a top tourist destination is the opening of the Cultural and Wine Tourism Centre. This project should certainly help Bordeaux to become wine capital of the world in line with its hopes. The spaceship-like object will be launched into orbit in 2016. It doesn’t really have a name yet but it will attract everyone involved in the wine trade and peripheral activities. More than 10,000 square metres, it will host exhibitions, workshops for learning and leisure, and seminars. With a permanent exhibition space covering 14 themes, among them a tour of the vineyards, giant maps of the wine areas and a history of wine gallery. Add to all that an auditorium with 250 seats and you can see why they expect to welcome over 400,000 visitors a year.
Visit Bordeaux with Winetourbooking !
All is in place then for Bordeaux to triumph as wine capital worldwide. This enormous influx of visitors means wine producers too must adapt equally to so-called œnotourism. Many chateaux are now taking steps to take advantage of this important development. They are joining us at Wine Tour Booking and flinging open their doors to welcome wine-lovers one and all.
