Bordeaux Uncorks Some Surprises

Oenophiles will be in their element in Bordeaux.

Sophie Gaillard-Mairal of the Bordeaux Tourist Office told a Toronto audience this week that the southwestern France region is “the capital of wine. Wine is everywhere in Bordeaux.”

Those exploring the city of Bordeaux can find wine shops and the city is also a departure point for those visiting surrounding vineyards, she said.

Gaillard-Mairal also praised the city of Bordeaux for its “extraordinary 18th-century architecture” and said visitors will find outdoor cafes and trendy bars.

Celine Boute of the Regional Aquitaine Tourism Committee in turn said those visiting Aquitaine will never be far from vineyards, with the “prestigious Medoc area” being one option.

Those visiting area wineries can sleep at some wine estates, spend a day picking grapes that will be turned into wine and tour wineries, learning about wine’s production. “The people really want you to understand the wine you drink,” she said.

Seen here are Coralie Belman, Travel Professionals International; Gaillard-Mairal; Olivier Kollek, Cite des Civilisations du Vin; and Melanie Paul-Hus and Annabelle Simon, Atout France.

For more, go to http://www.tourisme-aquitaine.fr or visit http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com .