Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Photo D. Remazeilles - Gironde Tourisme.
The “6 Wine Roads of Bordeaux” were created on December 14, 2015 by Gironde Tourisme and players invested in the «Vignobles & Découvertes» labelling.
These roads cover 6 wine estates encompassing all of Bordeaux’s vineyards: in the North-West, the Médoc and its castle road, Sauternes and les Graves, the cradle of Bordeaux vineyards in the South, in the North-East with the Saint-Emilion region and its medieval village, then, overlooking the estuary, Blaye and Bourg linked by the Route de la Corniche.
Finally, there is the large region of Bordeaux-Entre-deux-Mers, the “Tuscany of Bordeaux.” The 6th road will be the city of Bordeaux, the entrance to the vineyards. It can be traveled by car, bike, or boat.
As for the label «Vignobles & Découvertes», carried and assigned for a period of 3 years by Atout France and the Superior Council of Wine Tourism, renewable after audit, officially recognizes wine destinations based on two key ideas:
- providers involved in the label must respect a selection of quality criteria;
- they must include a complete wine-tourism offer (restaurant, accommodations, events etc.) to enable the creation of a “product” centered around touristic activities in the vineyard.
These roads cover 6 wine estates encompassing all of Bordeaux’s vineyards: in the North-West, the Médoc and its castle road, Sauternes and les Graves, the cradle of Bordeaux vineyards in the South, in the North-East with the Saint-Emilion region and its medieval village, then, overlooking the estuary, Blaye and Bourg linked by the Route de la Corniche.
Finally, there is the large region of Bordeaux-Entre-deux-Mers, the “Tuscany of Bordeaux.” The 6th road will be the city of Bordeaux, the entrance to the vineyards. It can be traveled by car, bike, or boat.
As for the label «Vignobles & Découvertes», carried and assigned for a period of 3 years by Atout France and the Superior Council of Wine Tourism, renewable after audit, officially recognizes wine destinations based on two key ideas:
- providers involved in the label must respect a selection of quality criteria;
- they must include a complete wine-tourism offer (restaurant, accommodations, events etc.) to enable the creation of a “product” centered around touristic activities in the vineyard.
Cité du Vin: entry into the vineyards…of the world
On the banks of the Garonne river, La Cité du Vin is still under construction. Spread out over 10 levels it holds an architectural space of 13 350 m2, with a 55 meters high arrow, and a belvedere on the 8th floor culminating at 35 meters. It is the work of the architecture firm XTU and of Casson Mann Limited for the scenography. Photo OT Bordeaux (taken in December 2015.)
Scheduled to open to the general public next June 1st, la Cité du Vin is already considered as the future cultural, touristic, and architectural symbol of the Bordeaux destination.
Neither a theme park nor a museum, it aspires to be a unique place where wine will be presented as a universal and live heritage. 450,000 visitors are expected in the first year of opening.
With nearly 14,000 m2 spread out over 10 levels, visitors will discover wine from all over the world, ages, and cultures.
The following services will be made available to visitors: a panoramic restaurant on the 7th floor, 3,000m2 of permanent and immersive circuit with 20 thematic modules that will stage over 120 audiovisual products, a personal digital visiting guide that will accompany the traveler throughout the entire trip.
There will be a space devoted to temporary exhibits, and another will honor an international wine-making country. Visitors will also have access to an auditorium, tasting workshops, and even educational workshops for younger visitors.
Some spaces will be accessible without an entry ticket: a wine and snack bar, a boutique of the world’s wines, and wine related products. A wine-tourism platform operated by the Tourism Office of Bordeaux will serve as a bridge between la Cité du Vin and the wineries of Bordeaux, and the world!
www.gironde-tourisme.fr "Discover" section of The Wine Roads of Bordeaux.
Neither a theme park nor a museum, it aspires to be a unique place where wine will be presented as a universal and live heritage. 450,000 visitors are expected in the first year of opening.
With nearly 14,000 m2 spread out over 10 levels, visitors will discover wine from all over the world, ages, and cultures.
The following services will be made available to visitors: a panoramic restaurant on the 7th floor, 3,000m2 of permanent and immersive circuit with 20 thematic modules that will stage over 120 audiovisual products, a personal digital visiting guide that will accompany the traveler throughout the entire trip.
There will be a space devoted to temporary exhibits, and another will honor an international wine-making country. Visitors will also have access to an auditorium, tasting workshops, and even educational workshops for younger visitors.
Some spaces will be accessible without an entry ticket: a wine and snack bar, a boutique of the world’s wines, and wine related products. A wine-tourism platform operated by the Tourism Office of Bordeaux will serve as a bridge between la Cité du Vin and the wineries of Bordeaux, and the world!
www.gironde-tourisme.fr "Discover" section of The Wine Roads of Bordeaux.
The wine tourism market in France (Sources Atout France)
Photo D. Remazeilles. Gironde-Tourisme.
7.5 million tourists traveled to a French vineyard in 2010 (last communicated numbers.)
61% of the visitors were French. Second market: Belgium (10%), the primary international clientele in Alsace, Aquitaine, Bourgogne and Champagne. Third market: the United Kingdom, the primary international market in the Loire Country, PACA, and Languedoc-Roussiblbon. Belgium and the United Kingdom represent 50% of the international market.
Then follow Holland (4%), Germany (3%), Switzerland (2%), and to the same extent of the United States, the primary long-haul market.
Atout France categorized wine-tourists in 4 groups: the Epicureans (40%) who come mostly to taste, buy wine, and visit cellars.
The Classics (24%) for whom wine is a component of the discovery of a destination’s heritage, but isn’t the exclusive attraction. They are less fan of stays in wine-making destinations.
The Explorers (20%): wine, the vine, the vineyard are instrumental motives of the stay. They look for secrets, unknown addresses.
The Experts (16%) who are in search of the discovery, history, culture of a terroir and the world of wine.
A number that affects professionals of DMC tourism: according to Atout France 93% of wine tourists make their visit “directly” without using the services of agencies or tour-operators.
61% of the visitors were French. Second market: Belgium (10%), the primary international clientele in Alsace, Aquitaine, Bourgogne and Champagne. Third market: the United Kingdom, the primary international market in the Loire Country, PACA, and Languedoc-Roussiblbon. Belgium and the United Kingdom represent 50% of the international market.
Then follow Holland (4%), Germany (3%), Switzerland (2%), and to the same extent of the United States, the primary long-haul market.
Atout France categorized wine-tourists in 4 groups: the Epicureans (40%) who come mostly to taste, buy wine, and visit cellars.
The Classics (24%) for whom wine is a component of the discovery of a destination’s heritage, but isn’t the exclusive attraction. They are less fan of stays in wine-making destinations.
The Explorers (20%): wine, the vine, the vineyard are instrumental motives of the stay. They look for secrets, unknown addresses.
The Experts (16%) who are in search of the discovery, history, culture of a terroir and the world of wine.
A number that affects professionals of DMC tourism: according to Atout France 93% of wine tourists make their visit “directly” without using the services of agencies or tour-operators.
