“The idea is to awaken the senses”: in Bordeaux, the immersive workshop at the Cité du Vin invents tasting with a 360-degree screen

From an armchair, visitors can enjoy a glass of wine while walking through the vineyard

The beachgrass swaying in the wind. The gentle sound of the waves. From the very first seconds, the atmosphere is one of relaxation on the comfortable sofas of the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux . In a slight darkness, the Arcachon landscapes scroll by on a 360-degree screen. The first glass, a Sauvignon, is served.

“It's a dry white wine, an Entre-Deux-Mers, with acidic notes that will pair well with salty flavors,” announces Baptiste Delamare. The oenologist, who leads the immersive workshop at the Cité du Vin, talks about classification and grape varieties, and explains French appellations to visitors. On this summer afternoon, the audience is foreign.

“We're from Massachusetts, in the United States. We'd like to settle in Bordeaux. It seemed natural to us to come to the Cité du Vin,” explains Ashley, who was visiting with her partner. For the American, “the workshop is a pleasant, relaxing experience, a different experience” for her, who, as a great wine lover, wanted to learn more about Bordeaux wines.

This is indeed the workshop's unique feature. It focuses on Bordeaux wines, while the Cité du Vin strives to showcase wines from around the world in both the permanent exhibition and its other events. A desire for internationality in its content that matches the clientele: in 2024, 53% of visitors to the Cité du Vin were foreigners. The Spanish represented the largest contingent, ahead of Americans and English visitors.

The workshop alternates between discovering the wine and the region. We stroll through the vineyards and fly over them thanks to beautiful images filmed by drones. The sensation is surprising: the vineyards are far away, yet the visitor is at the foot of the vine. With each of the four glasses offered for tasting, time is allowed to enjoy the sensations. Shiraz Minassian, an employee at the Cité du Vin, explains: "The idea is to awaken the senses. We always try to offer pauses, moments more conducive to contemplation."

Ilse is fond of this rhythm. A Dutch woman, she and her friend Elisa are taking a short tour of France. The two women, both in their twenties, are staying in Bordeaux for two days. They didn't necessarily have time to visit the surrounding vineyards. This prompted them to participate in this immersive workshop. “I really like Merlot. When I'm at home in the Netherlands, it's not unusual for me to drink a glass of Bordeaux. In fact, I really wanted to discover this tasting experience.”

The images continue to scroll. In the background, the sound of crickets emerges. A castle appears. Limestone, red shutters amidst the vineyards. Baptiste Delamare serves the last glass, a Cadillac wine , a sweet wine, accompanied by a chocolate vine... A child's cry rings out. We turn around. He's really there, just behind, running through the vines, but on the screen. It's like being there.