A Day Out At The Bordeaux Wine Festival In 2024

Last updated on May 7th, 2024 at 08:59 am

Thinking about going to the wine festival in Bordeaux this year?

You’re in the right place because the Bordeaux Wine Festival is one I love, and as I can be there in just over an hour by train, I know this city and its wine well.

Bordeaux is the wine capital of France, so if they put on a wine festival, you better believe it’s a good one. And in this article, I’m giving you the lowdown on what to see and how to make the most of your time there.

Plus, the details on the all important Wine Tasting Pass, which, of course, you don’t want to miss.

Last year, in 2023, the festival had a new addition, the Drone Show, and it was AMAZING. It’s back again this year, bigger and better.

Quite frankly, it’s the only place to be in southwest France at the end of June, so let’s dive in and discover what’s on offer at the Bordeaux Fête le Vin in 2024.

What Is The Bordeaux Wine Festival?

Simply put, the Bordeaux Wine Festival is a celebration of the grape harvest featuring around 1200 winemakers from the Bordeaux wine region.

It all started in 1998 and quickly became a major event in the French wine calendar, and people flock from all over, as well as locally, like me. 

It all happens on the banks of the Garonne with plenty of wine tasting, food stalls, entertainment and activities, and that’s just for starters.

• 2024 Dates: 27-30 June
• Festival Website: Visit the Bordeaux Wine Festival website >>>
• Entrance Fee: It’s completely free to enter
• Tasting Pass: Currently €19, but it will go up nearer the time to €23

Everything You Need To Know About Bordeaux Fête le Vin In 2024

Ok, so what can you expect when you get there? Well, the full program is still to be announced, but the lineup of events doesn’t tend to change too much.

Wine Tasting and Winemakers

At the heart of the Wine Festival is the Appellations Village, where you’ll get to discover the different wines from Bordeaux and the wider Nouvelle Aquitaine region. It’s all part of the tasting route if you buy a tasting pass, which I highly recommend you do as it’s a lot of fun. 

There are wines for all tastes and palettes, so you’ll have no problem finding something you like. Hubby and both like a good rosé, but then he prefers white, and I am a big fan of red, the heavier the better. 

But you’ll find everything within the different pavillions, including crémants, whites, reds and rosé.

Here’s the list of the different pavilions in the Appellations Village:

• Wines of the Médoc
• Bordeaux whites
• The Côtes
• Saint-Emilion – Pomerol – Fronsac
• Wines of Nouvelle-Aquitaine
• Bordeaux & Bordeaux Supérieur reds
• Graves – Sauternes
• Mouton Cadet

The Food Stalls

Where there is food, there is usually wine, especially in France, and Bordeaux is a big foodie city. I’ve never had a bad meal there, and I’ve eaten at a lot of restaurants.

Stalls are set up all along the Garonne with lots of amazing local food, such as the oysters from the Bassin d’Arcachon.

You’ll also find food vans selling fish freshly caught that morning, and it is divine. 

Then there are the cheese stalls, charcuterie, and, of course, the famous Bordeaux cannelés, and that’s just a few of the foods you’ll find.

The Tall Ships

If you love history like I do, then this one you won’t want to miss. Every year, Bordeaux’s Port de la Lune plays host to three or four tall ships that sit along the quays of the Garonne. 

They pay homage to the historical importance of maritime trade in spreading Bordeaux wines across the globe. The specific ships attending can vary from year to year, but the lineup often includes some really historical old vessels. In 2023, the ships in attendance were Le Belem, one of the last great French merchant ships of the 19th century, El Galeon, and the Santa Maria Manuela.

You can immerse yourself in the days of olde by going aboard and exploring each one and learning more about their history over the four days of the festival.

The Drone Show

A new addition to the 2023 festival was the Drone show, which was more like drone ballet. 500 drones lit up the sky, all choreographed to music to show the biodiversity of wine in Bordeaux and to promote the wine from the region.

It was a performance to end all performances as the drones took flight and illuminated everything.

It was seriously stunning, and, it’s back again for the 2024 festival. You’ll need to be there on the Friday or Saturday evening to see the show.

The Wine Region Of Bordeaux

The Bordeaux wine region has a viticultural heritage that dates back to Roman times and is the largest wine-growing area in France. Its terroir is ideally suited for grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. 

The region is divided into six appellations, each producing wines with a unique character, from the robust and age-worthy reds of the Médoc and Pomerol to the sweet, luscious whites of Sauternes. 

Bordeaux wines have a classification system which ranks vineyards and châteaux according to the quality of their output. 

In 2022, I spent a day at Château de Ferrand in Saint-Emilion, and they told me how hard it was to get Grand Cru Classé (Great Classified Growth). 

And once you’ve got it, you have to work hard to keep it.

The Bordeaux Wine Map

Here’s a brief overview of the six Bordeaux wine regions so you know what you’re looking for if you do a wine tasting:

1. Médoc:
   • Location: Situated on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, north of Bordeaux.
   • Terroir: Dominated by gravel soils, ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon.
   • Main Wines: Known for prestigious red wines with deep flavours and the ability to age gracefully. Médoc wines are structured, tannic, and complex.
2. Graves and Sauternes:
   • Location: South of Bordeaux, along the left bank of the Garonne River.
   • Terroir: Graves is known for its gravelly soil, which is excellent for both red and white wines. Sauternes, part of the larger Graves region, benefits from misty conditions conducive to noble rot.
   • Main Wines: Graves produces both refined reds and crisp, mineral-laden whites. Sauternes is famed for its exquisite sweet wines, made from botrytized Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes.
3. Blaye and Bourg:
   • Location: On the right bank of the Dordogne River, north of Bordeaux.
   • Terroir: Features a mix of clay, limestone, and sand soils.
   • Main Wines: Mostly known for Merlot-based red wines that are fruity, approachable, and offer great value. Some white wines are also produced, primarily from Sauvignon Blanc.
4. Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, and Fronsac:
   • Location: On the right bank of the Dordogne River, east of Bordeaux.
   • Terroir: Saint-Emilion and Pomerol have diverse soils, including limestone, clay, and gravel. Fronsac also benefits from clay-limestone soils.
   • Main Wines: These regions are renowned for their Merlot-dominant red wines, offering a range from plush and velvety (Pomerol) to structured and complex (Saint-Emilion and Fronsac).
5. Entre-Deux-Mers:
   • Location: Between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, southeast of Bordeaux.
   • Terroir: Characterized by fertile soils, including clay, limestone, and sand.
   • Main Wines: Best known for its dry, aromatic white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle. The region also produces red wines, but the whites are more prominent.

FAQS: Attending the Bordeaux Wine Festival in 2024

Final Thoughts: Fete Du Vin Bordeaux

If you’re not going to be in Bordeaux for the festival, don’t worry, as there are plenty of opportunities to try the wine. 

There are numerous tours to the different wine regions and chateaux, from a couple of hours to a full day in the vines. 

There are also some great little places to do wine tasting in the city centre if you don’t want to do a full tour.

And don’t forget Bordeaux is home to Cité du Vin, a wine museum spread over 8 floors in the city. 

You can also stay in some of the wine chateaux in and around Bordeaux, where you can enjoy wine from the cellar with your meal and a private tour with a sommelier. Just remember, if you’re visiting Bordeaux, try to plan for a minimum of 3-5 days, as there is a lot to see and do in this fabulous city.