Located in what was traditionally the wine merchants’ quarter of the city, the Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum is a must for anyone interested in learning more about the history of the wine trade in France from the Middle Ages to the present day. The museum’s permanent exhibitions explain the Bordeaux wine trade system, the various classifications of French wine, and different ageing processes used in the local cellars. They also focus on stories about Bordeaux’s most significant 18th- and 19th-century wine merchant families.
Visitors can explore on a self-guided visit or with a guide. All visits include expert-led wine tasting. The museum also hosts enology workshops and wine initiation workshops, affording insight into the winemaking process and wine-tasting techniques.
The Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum is located in the historic Chartrons district of Bordeaux on the left bank of the Garonne River. It’s about a 20-minute walk, or a short tram ride, from downtown Bordeaux. Take tram B to the Chartrons stop or tram C to the Camille Godard stop.
The museum is open daily, from 10am to 6pm, year-round. Weekends are the busiest time to visit, while weekday mornings are the best time to avoid the crowds. Look out for special events and themed tours hosted by the museum on weekday evenings or Sunday evenings.
Wine enthusiasts have plenty to get excited about in Bordeaux. Don’t miss a visit to the Cité du Vin, also in Chartrons, where you can immerse yourself in wine culture, and wine-tasting tours to the vineyards of Saint Emilion or the wine châteaux of the Médoc nearby. To dive even deeper into enology, you could even sign up for a workshop at the Bordeaux Wine School (École du Vin de Bordeaux).