Home Archive Subscribe About Contact     The Iconic Swirling Glass By Balu Pandian La Cité du Vin (CDV) translates to “The City of Wine” in English. CDV is a unique cultural facility dedicated to the universal heritage of wine. It is located in Bordeaux but hosts the finest wines from across the globe. It was inaugurated on the 31st of May 2016 by the President of France, Mr François Hollande, who called CDV a “very original, singular, unique facility – an emblem of excellence and a symbol of togetherness.” Sylvie Cazes, President of the Foundation, said at the inauguration, “Today is a culmination but also, above all, a beginning”. The Mayor of Bordeaux and President of Bordeaux Métropole, Mr Alain Juppé, called this landmark “his Guggenheim”. Not without reason. The dramatic architectural masterpiece, that represents a very ambitious rendition of wine swirling in a glass, sits on the riverbank of the Garonne. Paris-based Anouk Legendre and Nicolas Desmazières of XTU Architects designed this awesome project, on which an estimated 80 million Euros was spent.   La Cité du Vin   CDV is not a traditional wine museum – it is a treasure trove of wine history and culture that gives unique insights into the past, present and future of wine. CDV offers a journey around the world, through the ages, across countless cultures and civilisations!!! CDV engages its patrons with a multi-lingual high tech offering and activities on the events calendar to indulge the visitors in the rich culture of wine around the world. Well connected to the city, it is the boat arrival on the specially built pontoons that is advised – the unique golden reflection of CDV on the Garonne is simply amazing. I am very passionate about wine and a sommelier by profession. I have followed the trajectory of wine as I travelled across the globe. I was awestruck as I saw CDV and fell in love instantly. I have made sure to visit many wine museums around the world besides numerous vineyards, but have never experienced what I did at CDV and will try to share a virtual feel of CDV. The ticket counters flow through to the reception on the ground floor. For the wine lovers/ collectors/ afficianadoes, Cave Latitude20 houses more than 14,000 wines with 800 different labels from more than 80 countries around the world that make wine. This exceptional range has been selected by Régis Deltil, a Bordeaux wine merchant. I was delighted to see even Indian wines in this simply amazingly huge collection of wines besides Brazil, Indonesia, Tahiti and Ethiopia.   Cave Latitude20   As I made my way to the first floor, I walk through the very modern and spacious Thomas Jefferson Auditorium which will host most of the cultural events. The wine tasting room is a bee-hive of activity with a very full daily calendar. Meeting rooms with all the modern amenities are designed for those who might want to work out of these charming environs! But the most exciting feature on the floor was the library which is power packed with wine literature from so many origins that it was simply a feast for an avid reader like me – I will be back, and for much longer hours. Even as I was drooling over the opportunity that the wine literature presented, I received my digital multi-lingual (in eight languages) travel companion to help me navigate the second floor. This is a very innovative tech tool, which was so useful in getting to know the “heart of CDV” better – the floor pumps out information via audio-visuals that are based on the history, heritage, current industry trends, insights into the future…   Information via audio-visuals   Let me indulge you in at least two hi-tech devices that change the way we look at wine and will make you feel so knowledgeable. 1. Olfactory Treat: A covered glass bowl with ingredients like raspberry, coffee etc. is connected to a funnel and air pump. The idea is to pump air and get the real feel of aromas from the funnel shaped outlet.   Olfactory Treat   2. Hot Seat: The Maharaja’s chair in front of a big screen. You choose a topic and you will be greeted by a top chef or sommelier or wine maker to answer your queries. I was surprised by the amount of information that I got as I occupied the hot seat – this was one of my personal favorites in CDV. The next stop in our tour is the marvelous “Le 7” panoramic restaurant – on the 7th floor. Nicolas Lascombes pairs dishes made from seasonal regional produce featuring flavours of the world with an exhaustive and geographically diverse wine list. Bordeaux is not forgotten with the ‘Musts’, 25 icons and legendary bottles from its vineyards. The 110 seat restaurant offers an exceptional view of Bordeaux. The piece de resistance is on the top floor – the 8th floor – the Belvédère Bar, which is the highest point in Bordeaux and offers a 360° panorama view of the city. This can not detract from the stunningly decorated 4,000 empty wine bottles on the ceiling. The bar offers a complementary glass of wine with the ticket, and I enjoyed my wine while taking in the magnificent view of Bordeaux city – an extraordinary moment!   The Belvédère Bar ceiling with 4,000 empty wine bottles   La Cité du Vin should be on top of your to-do list as you plan to visit Bordeaux. Entry to the Ground and First floors does not require the visitor to buy a ticket. A Certified Sommelier, Balu Pandian is pursuing the Advance Sommelier level with The Court of Master Sommeliers Americas. He has decades of experience in hotels and restaurants overseas, and an active hotelier, with decades of experience overseas. He hails from Chennai, but is at home in Bordeaux and the French Riviera. 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