by Trecia Cooke, co-host of Rhythm & Roam Podcast
We had one job in Bordeaux: dress up in our best rock-and-roll chic, head to the Arkéa Arena, and let Lenny Kravitz serenade us, (Jennifer my college friend of 30 yrs and I) into musical bliss.
Instead, our inbox delivered a plot twist titled “Annulation concert de Lenny Kravitz”. Lenny was under the weather, the show got postponed from Tuesday to Thursday, and then canceled altogether. So there we were in southwestern France with VIP passes, zero guitar solos, and a very urgent question: What do you do when rock and roll breaks your heart in the wine capital of the world?
You head straight to La Cité du Vin and drink your feelings with a view.
Rising up beside the Garonne River like a decanter caught in mid-swirl, La Cité du Vin is Bordeaux’s architectural love letter to fermented grapes. Designed by XTU Architects, the metallic, fluid tower is shaped to mimic wine swirling in a glass and the gnarled roots of ancient vines.
Lenny might have called out sick, but this museum was very much open for business. Walking inside under the towering wooden arches felt like stepping inside an oversized, beautifully crafted oak barrel . Naturally, we did what any sensible travelers would do: posed next to a giant mechanical corkscrew and immediately forgave the universe.
The permanent exhibition spans over 3,000 square meters of interactive wizardry . Armed with digital audio guides strapped around our necks, we roamed through dozens of immersive installations which includes, the grape family portrait, micro-theater history: The Luxe et Fêtes diorama, the living vine, and the reality check.
After exploring every inch of wine history, our ticket led us directly to the holy grail: The Belvédère on the 8th floor.
Perched 35 meters high beneath a ceiling canopy made entirely of thousands of suspended wine bottles, you get a complimentary tasting pour of world-class wine. Standing at the panoramic windows overlooking the Garonne and the Jacques Chaban-Delmas lift bridge, clinking glasses with crisp white wine made the whole canceled concert saga feel like divine intervention.
Who needs arena rock when you have an eight-story panoramic wine bar? I might be … it IS Lenny Kravitz!
Trip Notes for Your Itinerary
If your travel plans get derailed or you just appreciate exceptional architecture and vintage pours, here is how to tackle La Cité du Vin:
Address: 134 Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux (Hop on Tram Line B right to the door).
Admission: Roughly €23 for adults, which includes the entire permanent interactive circuit and a tasting pour in the rooftop Belvédère.
Pro tip: Budget at least three hours so you are not rushing through the olfactory and sensory stations before heading up for your pour.
Have you ever had travel plans completely fall apart only to stumble into something even better? Hit reply and tell us your best backup travel stories, and tune in to the next episode of Rhythm & Roam Podcast for the full debrief!