Wine Theme Park
Hey all you wine lovers out there! After 7 years of construction there’s a new theme park just for you that’s opened. La Cité du Vin, which translates to City of Wine, recently opened off of the banks of the Garonne River in Bordeaux. Fill up your glass and check out this flavorful theme park. Up to know the only thing you could do is visit a vineyard or the California Wine Museum, but a park is the first of its kind.
The Stats
The theme park, which opened on June 1, 2016, cost $91 million to build. It has 20 themed areas with exhibits. It’s no surprise that its location is one of the most popular wine regions in the world.
Attractions
Guests can enjoy classes and screenings in the 250 seat auditorium, a simulator boat ride and of course wine! There are tasting sessions, a tapas bar, wine for sale from over 80 countries and a wine salon. One of the most interesting experiences at the park is the tasting experience. It includes 3d images and moving sets. If you are needing to sit down after all this fun, there’s an area that features plush chairs and stories of people that have had a little too much to drink. Even if you don’t speak French, you can still enjoy the park. Guests are given a digital guide that is translated in one of eight languages.
There are also plenty of events and shows scheduled throughout the year.
After The Park
Since Bordeaux is considered to be one of the top producers of wine in the world, there’s a lot of fabulous wine to have, even outside of the park. Two of these places include Aux Quatre Coins de Vin and the École du Vin de Bordeaux. If you happen to be in the area from June 23-26, the Bordeaux Wine Festival is an event that you must go too. There are 80 wine pavilions that span over 1 mile and feature a variety of wine to taste and purchase. Let’s not forget about the wine tours in the area as well. There are approximately over 1,500 wineries in Bordeaux.
Getting There
The best way to get to the theme park is to fly directly into Bordeaux from Paris as it’s only a 65-minute flight. In the spring France will be offering a high speed train network as well. In the future they may even add a “wine line” from London, to make it even easier to get to and from the area.
As you can imagine, this theme park is meant for adults only. Even though tickets cost $25, it’s bound to be worth the price with the amount of wine that you will be able to sample while there.
Start planning France river cruise of this beautiful wine region today!
