2012 Bordeaux wine festival

France Bordeaux

2012 BORDEAUX WINE FESTIVAL

AN UNPRECEDENTED INTERNATIONAL IMPACT

The Bordeaux Wine Festival has never before had such an international dimension. From 28th June to 1st July, over 500,000 visitors enjoyed experiencing the world of wine
culture in all its manifestations. They could discover some 80 appellations from Bordeaux and the Aquitaine region, as well as the leading brands of Bordeaux wine, on a 2 km wine road.

Two impressive pavilions located at the entrance to the festival, as well as the visit of an official delegation, the participation of four Michelin-starred chefs from the most prestigious restaurants in Asia, and numerous special events (Chinese tea ceremony, martial arts, musical performances, etc.) have marked the strong presence of Hong Kong, this year's guest of honour.
Over 50,000 Tasting Pass holders were able to appreciate the rich diversity of Bordeaux wines and meet winegrowers and merchants at various pavilions. Furthermore, thanks to the Vineyard Pass offering twenty trips organized by the Bordeaux Tourist Office and their partner agencies, 750 people went on bilingual tours to Saint-Emilion, the Médoc, the Graves, Sauternes, Blaye and Bourg, the Entre-Deux-Mers, and Côtes de Bordeaux, i.e. twice more than in 2010.



Another major success in 2012: entertaining and original introductory wine tasting workshops (sensory voyage, blending, advice from Michelin-starred chefs on pairing wine and food, and making Bordeaux-based cocktails in a musical atmosphere) taught at the CIVB Wine School, which welcomed 12,349 people over the 4-day event—three times more than at the previous festival.
Original initiative of the Chamber of Agriculture of the Gironde, the pavilion Dark Lab did not empty during these four days, with to the program an unusual, magic, unique experience. Inside, it was pitch dark. Not the slightest light source, visitors were even asked to turn off their cellphone and store their watch with phosphorescent needles before entering. They were then taken over by a visually impaired person who offered them to comment the tasting of 3 wines awarded a medal at the Concours de Bordeaux - Vins d'Aquitaine... and the effect produced by total darkness! Because in everyday life the transmission of information to the brain is due for 80% to sight and if some were apprehensive at the entrance of the Dark Lab, all emerged with a smile, the desire to repeat and extend the travel thanks to the friendliness of the blind staff who, for a moment, made them enter their world.

The passport for the Great Growths in the 1855 Classification, entitling holders to attend outstanding tastings of 8 great growths in their owners’ company was much appreciated by foreign visitors.
The 40 giant bottles of the “Les Bordelaises” XXL exhibition, decorated by French and Chinese artists, played the stars on the quays. It is the “Psyche” bottle by Laurent Valera for Bernard Magrez Cultural Institute, which won the Jury Prize, organized in partnership with the TV channel France3 Aquitaine.
Three special mentions were also awarded by the jury composed of personalities from the world of art to the magnum “1862” created by artist Claire Guiral for Joanne; to the one called “Love IV: amazement” made by Chinese painter Liu Tung Mui for the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and finally to the jeroboam (4 m) “1990.12.31” of the famous painter of the contemporary Chinese avant-garde Fang Lijun for LD Vins. Designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac has meanwhile received the Special Prize of the City of Bordeaux for his artistic contribution to the Bordeaux Wine Festival 2012, with the bottle “Bacchus' ghost”, prepared for the House François Janoueix, and the writing of the fireworks closing the event. The Price of Internet users, in partnership with France3 Aquitaine, went to the bottle “Crazy liquids” by Anais Bonpunt for Transport Veynat. And “Bottling Médoc-1” by Julie Laporte for Château Léoville Poyferré won the Award of Bordeaux Wine Festival’s Visitors.
At night 30,000 people attended the spectacular “Bordeaux loves the world, and the world loves Bordeaux” sound and light show portraying Bordeaux wine around the world, projected on the 4,000 sqm 18th century facade of the Palais de la Bourse, before a sumptuous firework display.



The Cuvée littéraire, true “open-air reading room”; the River cruises provided by professional fleet from Bordeaux ; and the old sailing ships among which the famous three-master Bélem, faithful to the event ; and an exceptional artistic program renewed every evening on the Place des Quinconces have punctuated these four days of festivities.
This 8th edition of the Bordeaux Wine Festival, leading wine tourism event in France, gathered 500,000 French and foreign visitors, over 50 public and private partners, 800-1,000 winegrowers present for 4 days, 300 French and non-French accredited journalists. Its orga­-
nization involves more than 1,500 people, the participation of 200 artists and represents a budget of 2.6 million euros for an estimated economic return of 20 million euros: €15.5 million direct and indirect economic impact from visitors, €3.5 million relative to the organisation, and
€1 million from business tourism. Its surface area went from 1.5 hectares in 1998 to nearly 6 hectares.
The event pursues its international vocation. This original way of promoting Bordeaux wines now exists on 3 continents: Bordeaux Fête le Vin in Quebec City took place from 6th to 9th September and the Hong Kong Wine and Dine
Festival from 1st to 4th November 2012.
Los Angeles will be the guest of honour at the next Bordeaux Wine Festival in 2014.

Dominique Peyral-bonCrédits photos : Gilles Arroyo - Thomas Sanson, Jean-Bernard Nadeau.

www.bordeaux-fete-le-vin.com