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 ‘La Cité du Vin’ is a unique 10- floor modern edifice and a wine-inspired, cultural recreation site covering more than 14,000 square meters which will hope to become the Guggenheim of Wine in times to come. It opened to the public yesterday after 7 years of work and an over-run of €14 million. It was formally inaugurated by the French President Francois Holland a day earlier amidst protests and tight security.
Even though there is a dichotomy in the modern day France where some of their wine laws are archaic, the domestic wine consumption is going down and the historical French supremacy in winemaking is being challenged by the world, Bordeaux has always helped spread the wine culture across the world thanks to its port and its development. Gironde City-named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 and European Best Destination in 2015, has been a major tourist attraction, thanks to the wine connection with the rest of the world.
Focusing his speech mainly on the importance of the wine sector to the French economy, President Holland reportedly said, ‘Wine is part of our cultural and gastronomic heritage but also our landscape. It symbolizes how France is seen by the outside world; a country of freedom and culture and an emblem of the enviable lifestyle of which we are so proud.’
The architectural design of the building was conceptualized by a Parisian company. It depicts wine being swirled in a wine glass and the coil of a grapevine. The opulent looking building with unique design captures “the spirit of wine and its fluid essence- a seamless curve, intangible and sensual,” according to the promoters.
It will be a major draw for the Aquitaine region and France as a whole, not to forget the hoards of wine tourists and visitors to Bordeaux who can look forward to a unique experience. In fact, with barely 2-hours journey by TGV from Paris, it will attract many tourists visiting Paris.
One of the highlights is the 35 meters high belvedere on the 8th floor where the permanent tour ends. Visitors can get a 360° view of Gironde city with all its beautiful vineyards and the unique panoramic view after which once can enjoy a glass of wine. Working in conjunction with several trade associations across the world the visitors can taste and discover a range of wines that will consist of 20 labels and will be changed  regularly. A huge, long chandelier made out of thousands of wine bottles and a 10 meters long oak bar top, helps make it unique. Hopefully, one day India would be also represented although unlike during the next few years.
The project was christened as Cité des Civilisations du Vin in 2012. A market study was conducted in 2015 to assess the compatibility between the name and the concept, for regional, national and international visitors. The existing name was seen as difficult and out of step with the contemporary shape of the project. The term ‘Cité’, meanwhile, was widely approved and chosen-hence the name Le Cite du Vin to indicate the openness and approachability.
The total project cost for La Cité du Vin is € 81 million during the seven years it took to fructify. Around 450,000 tourists are expected to visit every year, 40% of them expected to be from overseas. The City of Bordeaux expects an inflow of €38 million in terms of new job creation and tourism related activities every year. The French government spent a miniscule 2% of the total project costs whereas Bordeaux city has given 38%-the balance has come from private contributors including the proprietors of the chateaux.
There are various types of tickets, stating with self-guided tours and ending with season tickets for unlimited visits and are available online with pre-assigned timings as well. |