Bordeaux is at the centre of the wine universe – but offers so much more than vineyards and chateaux.

Bordeaux is at the centre of the wine universe – but offers so much more than vineyards and chateaux.

Despite its origins as the prosperous, beating heart of the wine world, Bordeaux steadily became a largely unfriendly, industrial city which welcomed few tourists – but thankfully, the city has regained its lustre, due to a series of renovations to its historic buildings and the establishment of beautiful green spaces and pedestrianised areas.

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The ‘Golden Triangle’, bordered by the three boulevards of Cours Clemenceau, Cours de l’Intendance and Allées de Tourny, is the historical heart of the city – and possibly its most beautiful area. The district of St-Pierre, just behind the Place de la Bourse, is a warren of picturesque cobbled streets and alleyways, adorned by wrought -iron bedecked mansions that overlook paved squares, and with Rue St-Catherine boasting plenty of high-end boutiques.

The idea of shacking up in a country chateau may seem romantic, but a central base is best, with the countryside easily accessible from there. The InterContinental Bordeaux – Le Grand Hotel, on the Place de la Comedie,is  a Belle Époque-styled property with UNESCO World Heritage architecture, and boasts a 2 Michelin-starred restaurant on site – ‘Le Pressoir d’Argent Gordon Ramsay’ – run under the auspices of the celebrity chef. During the summer, its ultra-chic rooftop bar ‘The Night Beach’ is possibly the city’s hottest spot for cocktails and all-night dancing.

The newly-opened La Cite du Vin is a tribute to all things oenological, offering a high-tech interactive experience which brings the sights, sounds and smells of wine from around the world together into a compelling story. The 8^th-floor Belvedere testing room offers wrap-around views of the city, with wines from around the world available for tasting,  and the ground floor boutique offers for sale wines from almost every wine-producing region in the world.

Most who venture the two hours south by the new high-speed train link from Paris have more than a passing interest in wine, so a Chateau visit is a given. The elegant solution is a Bordovino tour encompassing a private helicopter flight to St-Emilion, lunch in the garden of a family chateau, a tour and tasting at a prestigious Grand Cru Classe estate and a visit to the charming UNESCO World Heritage site of St-Emilion itself.

Written By  Trevor Crighton