Bordeaux set for huge wine festival
350,000 visitors expected over four days of fireworks, music and tastings beginning on June 26.
Bordeaux’s 10th wine festival which begins on June 26 is expected to attract 350,000 people.
The event takes place on the left bank of the La Garonne river between the Pont de Pierre and the Bourse Maritime and is the first festival since the city was granted World Heritage Status.
The city will also be using the festival as a platform to promote its bid to be European Capital of Culture in 2013.
Visitors can choose from different types of passes which enable access to the ‘wine and food’ trail and a chance to sample products from Bordeaux and the Aquitaine region.
Eight Appellation Pavillions will be open; Médoc/Graves, L'Or de Bordeaux, Blancs Secs and Rosé
de Bordeaux, Bordeaux - Bordeaux Supérieur, Saint-Emilion - Pomerol - Fronsac, Les Côtes de Bordeaux, brand name
wines and Aquitaine wines.
Wine merchants will be placed in three Millésime Pavilions - Castel, Cordier Mestrezat and Ginestet.
Trips to surroundings prestigious vineyards are also being organised.
Events during the festival include a giant picnic on June 28, a swim across the river on June 29 and barrel rolling competitions with fireworks every night.
The Bordeaux Aquitaine National Orchestra will begin the festivities at Place de la Bourse on June 26 at 22.30 with 200 musicians and singers performing Carmina Burana.
Every evening three tenors from Russia will perform, highlighting Bordeaux’s links with its twin-city Saint-Petersburg.
For more details visit the event website here.
Photo:Bordeaux Wine Festival/Gilles Arroyo
