The French city of Bordeaux will be the world capital of wine this June when it celebrates the opening of the Cité du Vin, a cultural center for all things wine-related, June 1, followed by the biennial "Bordeaux Wine Festival" along the city's riverbanks at the end of the month.

Visitors from all over the world will be heading to Bordeaux to explore the Cité du Vin, which has been under construction for three years. With the imminent opening of this wine-related cultural center and the city set to host several matches for the UEFA Euro 2016 soccer tournament, Bordeaux is shaping up to be a real hotspot for visitors this summer, putting the French city on the map as an international destination.

In a new eco-friendly neighborhood at the heart of the city's Bassins à Flot district, the Cité du Vin stands as a futuristic monument to the area's regeneration, with a design that echoes the rites and rituals of wine drinking. The building's curved structure brings to mind wine swirling in a glass before being sampled, while the colors mirror the nearby Garonne river. And while the exterior design has been the subject of much discussion, the interior has plenty more in store for visitors, with a 13,350 square metre space, spread over 10 floors, dedicated entirely to the region's famous tipple.

An immersive experience

Visitors should head to the center's second floor to discover the heart of the Cité du Vin and its permanent exhibition. This can be explored freely with the help of an audio guide, available in eight languages, taking wine lovers through an immersive, multi-dimensional experience that makes use of all five senses. The 3,000 square metre permanent exhibition uses 3D images, odors and other interactive features to explain the history, properties and cultural aspects of wine. In fact, as well as presenting the wines of Bordeaux and their rich tapestry of flavors, the center will also take visitors on an immersive voyage to other vineyards of the world. Stainless steel, wood and glass structures worthy of a genuine wine cellar explain the different stages of wine making, from harvesting the grapes to fermentation, etc.

And after theory, comes practice, as visitors head to the eighth-floor Belvedere viewing gallery to sample a glass of the good stuff while enjoying panoramic views of Bordeaux. The center is also home to a wine bar, a shop and a panoramic restaurant on the seventh floor.

The 10th "Bordeaux Wine Festival"

Wine fans can round off their Bordeaux experience with a trip to the "Bordeaux Wine Festival," which turns the city's riverbanks into a giant wine-tasting event every other year. From June 23 to 26, 2016, the region's producers will be filling the glasses of passersby as they present their various wines and explain their production. Visitors can also get a special pass to sample the region's famous "1855" grand cru wines, the real stars of the region. Trips to vineyards are also organized to help tourists understand the production process. Held alternate years with the Vinexpo wine industry trade fair, the "Bordeaux Wine Festival" has become a popular event that brings together locals and wine fans from further afield.

A full price ticket to the Cité du Vin costs about $30, including access to the permanent exhibition, the belvedere and one glass of wine.

It'll be open every day from 9.30am to 7.30pm, from June 1 to August 31, 2016.