LA WINERY
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Ali Baba’s magic cave
In the Médoc growing area, known worldwide for its prestigious appellations and the châteaux that go with them, a newcomer called La Winery is provoking passionate debate. Philippe Raoux who is also the owner, notably of Château Arsac in AOC Margaux, felt like creating a different type of place to discover wine. In contrast to the intimidating pomp of some estates, he wanted a wine tourist complex accessible to everyone. He asked architect Patrick Fernandez to construct a contemporary structure entirely out of glass and girders along the lines of a greenhouse turned inside out, located in the middle of a 26-hectare park. In addition, the immense U shaped building comprises an excellent restaurant, a shop, a concert hall, a tasting room, a storehouse, and administrative offices. A gallery, paved with old railway planks allows visitors to move from one area to the next. The section presenting the wine range, offers the big surprise of a carefully selected array of bottles from around the world, rather than just wines from Bordeaux. New World wineries generally transform their estates into tourist attractions as part of their marketing strategy. This is not the case here where the approach is vaster and entirely unique. It is possible to browse within an area of 1,000 m2, moving freely from one region to another and one country to the next. Sommeliers advise visitors, helping them pick wines reflecting their taste preferences. This service is made all the more easy by the use of a precise and amusing concept, fine-tuned to discover your “oenological sign” - a blind tasting of six wines allowing to determine one’s consumer profile thanks to an interactive console. This test is not only passionate but it really works. Themed or Meet the Winemaker tastings, concerts, special wine-related events and temporary exhibitions of modern art are also organised at La Winery. Indeed, Philippe Raoux is a great collector, who keenly promotes the link between art and wine, like his vines for example, that one visits for the sculptures that have been added to the decor.
Agnès Lascève
La Winery
Rond-point des Vendangeurs
D1, Arsac en Médoc.
Tel. : +33 (0)5 56 39 04 90, www.winery.fr
Guided cellar tour of Château d’Arsac by appointment only on week days.
Tel : +33 (0)5 56 58 83 90
Hôtel & Spa Golf du Médoc: Set price for a weekend starting from 199 € per person.
Tel : +33 (0)5 56 70 31 31, contact@hotelgolfdumedoc |
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