Planning a trip to a European wine capital? Westgarth Wines has curated a list of the continent’s best wine museums to help enhance your hands-on trip to the vineyards or to simply enjoy in their own right. Offering everything from panoramic views with a glass of wine and sommelier experiences, to fine art inspired by Vitis vinifera, these wine history museums are worth making a detour for!

Atelier®ANAKA-Cité du Vin- XTU architects

Opened in 2016, La Cité du Vin is stunning, educational, and one of the top interactive wine museums in Europe, located on the edge of Bordeaux city’s Garonne River. Devoted to the history and culture of wine, its 13,350 square meters cover 10 floors, encompassing tasting rooms, interactive maps, state-of-the-art exhibition technology, and a good selection of restaurants. The museum’s jaw-dropping curvaceous glass and metal architecture represent the fluidity and soul of wine and the flow of River Garonne.

Highlights

• Glass-walled tasting room with 360° views of Bordeaux, featuring local wines and labels from around the world

• Dedicated area on Bordeaux wine history and appellations

• Immersive sensory exhibition for exploration of wine aromas and textures

• Virtual helicopter ride over 20 renowned worldwide wine regions

• Panoramic journey tracing the wine trade from the ancient to the modern world

• (The building itself! It’s a must-see landmark!)

Website: www.laciteduvin.com 

Opening its doors in 2022, the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin in the old town of Dijon is dedicated to two delightful UNESCO-recognized cultural elements: The celebration of the ‘Burgundy Vineyard Climats’ and the ‘French Gastronomic Meal’. A great addition to wine tourism in Europe, the venue spans 1,750 square meters, combining the architecture of the former Hôtel-Dieu (dating to 1204) and modern design. This must-visit attraction features immersive, multimedia exhibits on French wine and gastronomy, as well as several great restaurants and a well-stocked wine bar.

Highlights

• La Cave cellar with 2,500-plus wines by the glass and Burgundian specialties

• Wine tasting workshops focusing on Burgundy terroir

• Gastronomic Village showcasing boutiques and cooking workshops

• The Chapel of Climats and Terroirs of the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region

• Librairie Gourmande for books about all things wine and culinary

• Interactive exhibition on the city of Dijon

Website: en.citedelagastronomie-dijon.fr 

One of the best wine museums worth visiting in Italy, WiMu is located in the beautiful, historic village of Barolo at the center of Piemonte’s Langhe region in the Falletti family castle. Accepting its first visitors in 2010, it’s laid out over five levels of medieval and Renaissance architecture (refurbished accordingly for the exhibitions). The museum houses interactive, multimedia displays that explore wine through the lenses of history, nature, local heritage, and art.

Highlights

• Panoramic views of Barolo country from the castle tower

• Dedicated sections on Barolo wine and regional grape varieties

• Guided Barolo and rosé Nebbiolo events in wine tasting rooms

• Store stocking Barolo from the 11 villages of the Langhe where it’s produced

• Showcase of fascinating medieval and Renaissance castle architecture

Website: https://www.wimubarolo.it/ 

VINSEUM Museu de les Cultures del Vi de Catalunya

Opened in 2001, the Catalan Wine Cultures Museum (Museu de les Cultures del Vi de Catalunya in the local lingo) is situated in the picturesque town of Vilafranca del Penedès, the “capital” of the heart of Catalonia’s premium wine region. The museum, housed in a renovated 19th-century building, honors Catalan wine heritage, spanning ancient times to modern-day innovation. Through experiential exhibits, it explores viticulture and its cultural significance within the frameworks of archaeology, art, and technology, examining traditional wine production history and the cultural importance of wine in Catalonia. The museum offers tiered ticket prices that include entrance and tastings of different styles of wines.

Highlights

• Classic and contemporary artworks themed around wine

• Display of 500 wine labels

• Ancient winemaking tools

• Interactive multimedia presentations on the vineyard and cellar

• Seasonal workshops

• Store featuring Catalan wines and wine books

• Tavern selling a range of still and sparkling Catalan wines

Website: vinseum.cat/en

WOW PORTO

One of the most interesting European wine museums,WOW is a multi-site cultural district all within walking distance of one another in charming Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the Douro River from Porto. One of the most unique wine museums across Europe, WOW is part of a ‘decentralized’ concept,with each venue diving into a different aspect of wine culture. Venues include The Wine Experience where Portuguese wine is in focus, The very instagrammable Pink Palace for rosé wine lovers,and The Art of Drinking where 2,500 beverage vessels and the rituals of drinking are explored.

 Highlights

• 6 unique museums related to wine

• Free wine tastings at The Wine Experience

• Immersive and interactive displays

• Oenology education and sommelier experiences

• Live events at WOW outdoor square

• Flexible ticket packages

• Choice of haute cuisine, steakhouse, and casual restaurants

Website: https://www.wow.pt/ 

Feature photo: WOW PORTO

Want to read more? Take a look at some of our other blogs:

• • Drinking with the Gods: Dionysian references in wine
  • The 20th century abstract art labels of Mouton Rothschild
  • The music vintages of Pichon Comtesse