Already upon landing at Bordeaux Airport, one notices a slightly different atmosphere. Just in front of the entrance to the airport, a small vineyard has been planted, cultivated in the typical Bordeaux style. The vines are trained in a low-growing form in a small grass-covered vineyard. Since the airport is located relatively close to the city, the city centre can be reached easily by tram.

Bordeaux is strongly shaped by its rivers. The Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet north of the city to form the large Gironde estuary, one of the largest estuaries in Western Europe. Over centuries, these rivers have shaped the region’s gravel and alluvial soils and created a favourable microclimate for vine growing—one of the key reasons why Bordeaux has become one of the world’s most famous wine regions.

For our first visit, we head to the left bank of the Garonne River, to the Haut-Médoc region. We visit a château, which in this context refers to a wine estate or winery. The château building is the first structure visible after entering the estate, with the vineyards stretching out behind it. With expert guidance, we tour the representative cellar, which impresses with its monumental appearance and neatly arranged wooden barrels at the entrance, while the large stainless-steel tanks and bottles used for ageing are located in separate rooms.

As part of the tour, we taste a representative Sauvignon Blanc, followed by a red Bordeaux blend from 2021 and another, five years older. Comparing them clearly reveals the ageing potential of these wines.

Cité du Vin

Along the way, we stop for the traditional Bordeaux dessert, canelé de Bordeaux, before continuing to our next destination – Cité du Vin. This is a unique museum and cultural center dedicated to wine and the world’s winemaking traditions. Visitors can explore interactive exhibitions, learn more about vineyards, wineries, and wine regions, and enjoy tastings of wines from different countries. The building itself is architecturally striking, with a modern design reminiscent of swirling wine in a glass, and the panoramic viewpoint at the top offers spectacular views of the city and the Garonne River.

We dedicate the next day primarily to exploring the city, and since it’s the weekend, some wineries are closed. Therefore, we decide to visit a legendary bar in the city center, known on the wine scene for its extensive selection of wines by the glass. We taste wines from Fronsac and Saint-Émilion, and finish with a beautiful, very complex wine from Lalande-de-Pomerol. With the realization that truly experiencing Bordeaux requires more time, we share a photo taken in the wine bar, which clearly illustrates part of the lifestyle lived in this city.