Around 1.5 hours from Bordeaux in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the Domaine de Siorac and Muriel Landat Pradeaux offer visitors a chance to discover the winemaking traditions of AOC Bergerac and sample Périgord grape juice.

When was the Domaine de Siorac first established?

In 1818, when the estate was just a family operation here in the Périgord. My grandfather began direct sales under the “Domaine du Siorac” label in the 1970s. His three sons redeveloped the vineyard in 1981, combining the family’s expertise with the needs of the clay-limestone soil.

Were you always going to take over the family vineyard?

I’m a trained engineer and spent ten years working in manufacturing before becoming a young farmer in 2016. I was keen to see this estate, which has been in the family for six generations, maintain its values and continue to produce Bergerac wine!

Do you protect the environment in your wine growing?

This is our third year of converting to organic wine production and we are committed to achieving Haute Valeur Environnementale (High Environmental Value) certification.

You are the only winemakers in Dordogne to produce Verjus, can you tell us more?

We brought it back into fashion in the 1980s. The term “Verjus” comes from French slang and refers to a green grape made from a forgotten grape variety, the Périgord. It is widely used in the region's cuisine!

Apart from visits and wine tastings, what other activities do you offer?

Each year we organise an evening event at the farm, as well as picnics with winemakers and, as holders of the Tourism and Handicap certification label, we offer accessible cultural activities too. We also provide fun and educational activities for families, from geocaching – a vine and wine themed treasure hunt – to a trip through the vineyard on an all-terrain scooter.

La Cité du Vin in Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, is a place of discovery and experiences and, in addition to its Permanent exhibition and temporary shows, offers guided tours of its stunning building and oenocultural tasting workshops.

What unites Bordeaux, the world’s markets, books and sensory experiments? As we’ll see, wine!

La Cité du Vin invites you to take part in themed wine tastings like no other. From activities centred around sight, smells and taste in enticing spaces to a classic (or innovative!) introduction to wine tasting, or book readings accompanied by an introduction to wine crus. Come and experience a fresh approach to wine discovery here in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

The city of Bordeaux is an iconic capital of France’s Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and its surrounding vineyards have acquired a global reputation. Against this prestigious backdrop, the city opened the world’s first museum dedicated to showcasing the diversity of wine: La Cité du Vin. This building, with its strikingly modern and majestic design, sits like a sentinel beside the Garonne river and has become an unmissable attraction for visitors to Bordeaux.

Similar to a classic museum space, but at the same time quite different due to its interactive educational and fun approach, La Cité du Vin takes you on an in-depth journey through the world’s winemaking heritage. At the heart of La Cité du Vin you’ll find over 3,000 m² of space dedicated to its Permanent exhibition. This journey of discovery through time and space passes through 20 or so themed areas that cover all aspects of wine dating back thousands of years.

Against a highly evocative architectural décor, visitors are presented with the diverse influences that this precious drink has had on society: from its influence on our landscape, to its ability to generate myths and beliefs, act as a source of inspiration for artists and the collective imagination, develop traditions and expertise, bring people together and provide pleasure and a sense of sharing...

After winning the Wine Tourism Trophies Special Jury Prize for it's International Influence in 2019, La Cité du Vin has been awarded with the "Exceptional Offer" prize at the 2024 Wine Tourism Trophies in the "Art, culture & savoir-faire” category. 

Numerous multimedia and sensory features, including 3D image projection and smells, allow visitors to engage with the exhibition on their own or as a group as they travel from 6,000 BC to the present day, encountering each civilisation that incorporated winegrowing into their culture.

There are activities for all kinds of visitor – for those visiting as a family or with friends, as a couple or on their own – and for all levels of knowledge, from connoisseurs to novices, wine tourists or those just keen to find out more. Visitors will discover how climate and land can influence a wine’s character, learn the secrets behind wine production and have their senses awakened as they are introduced to a host of aromas. They will climb aboard a merchant vessel and cross the world’s oceans as they trace the history of wine across the water, or visit Bordeaux at different periods in its history as they wander through some of the city’s iconic locations such as 17th century Chartrons or the Mitchell glassworks.

Each visit to the Permanent exhibition ends in the 35-metre tall Belvedere, with its panoramic view of the city of Bordeaux and an opportunity to sample wines from around the world.

La Cité du Vin is one of the unmissable major attractions in Bordeaux and N-Aquitaine. It is a space dedicated to wine, to those who produce it now and have done throughout history, and to those who enjoy it today around the world.

Since 2013, this competition has been rewarding the best wine-tourism initiatives in the Bordeaux wine region across seven different categories. The prizes awarded are a mouthwatering symbol of excellence! As witnessed by the seven Best Of Gold winners from the award’s 2019 edition.

Château Les Carmes Haut Brion has a passion for architecture, and its highly contemporary cellar is designed to please. Curious visitors will love the artistic forest trail at Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte. And for those in search of some excitement, why not fly over the vineyard at Château Vénus in a plane?

Fancy a snack? Come and taste some local produce in Château Guiraud’s ancient chapel. Unless you prefer to spend the night at Château La Tour Carnet, packed with medieval history...

At Château de Climens, you can uncover the secrets behind the world of biodynamic winemaking. And finally, Château Prieuré-Lichine offers a warm welcome for those keen to explore traditional winemaking.

A vineyard “must”, Château de Monbazillac shows no sign of dying on the vine! The historic monument is constantly reinventing itself in its attempts to captivate visitors.

the layout of the site’s museum is fun and educational, immersing curious visitors in the venue’s history and the Monbazillac appellation with its golden nectar. You then embark on a signposted tour of the park, beckoning you to enjoy a stroll and take a close look at the ecosystem of the vines.

The cellars cultivate an air of mystery, serving as the backdrop for a fact-finding mission into the grapes designed for children. And, just so that the whole family can get the most out of their visit, the Pavillon des Arômes devoted to different aromas welcomes adults for a tasting.

Art exhibitions and events re also held throughout the year. More than enough, in other words, to ensure you make some wonderful discoveries.