This spring La Cité du Vin will unveil an exhibit of art and design works ranging from useful glass objects to highly unusual glass creations. Held from March 15 to June 30, 2019, the “Mind-Blowing” exhibit is a metonymical retrospective of glass works, proudly patroned by Cos d’Estournel.
A look behind the scenes with Michel Reybier:
The overall experience of and the emotion one feels when tasting wine are primordial to me. Given this attachment, it seemed natural to support La Cité du Vin. A symbol of Bordeaux’s openness, La Cité du Vin is a gateway to the wine regions of the world, a place that allows visitors to discover wine and the universe around wine in a new fashion, one that integrates sensorial, human, cultural and even economic dimensions.
The digital revolution continues to foment major changes in the wine industry, and La Cité du Vin does a wonderful job of integrating these facets into its exhibits. Cos d’Estournel has always prided itself on being attentive to the world around it, and I feel very concerned by these issues.
Finally, as art and design have always been one of our greatest passions at Cos d’Estournel, as evinced by the major architectural renovation of our chateau and cellars completed over ten years ago, it seemed highly pertinent to support La Cité du Vin.
Art and wine share close ties with deep historical roots. The god of wine and inspiration, Bacchus has been portrayed in mosaics from the Roman Era all the way through the Renaissance, when Michelangelo depicted him in sumptuous sculptures.
More recently, this connection can be found in paintings such as Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party, sculpture and music including the stirring “Libiamo ne’ lieti calici” from La Traviata. Wine and design are also very closely related, the latter playing an undeniable role in the audacious architecture of La Cité du Vin. Conceived as an architectural metaphor of the vine or wine being swirled in a glass, the structure scintillates in a myriad of ways according to the sunlight and the time of day, evoking the constantly evolving robe of a wine.
Art and design have always been intrinsically linked to the identity of Cos d’Estournel, beginning with Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel. His daring design of the chateau, with its monumental and singular pagodas, was unusual and iconic, driven by a passion for beauty and the sublime.
It was this same passion that guided the renovation of the estate’s chateau and cellars in recent years. The use and design of the different buildings were completely revisited according to a decidedly modern vision, all the while respecting the estate’s attachment to the exotic. Drawing on his mastery of mixing genres, interior architect Jacques Garcia created a mélange of sober elements, contemporary materials and exotic inspirations to render a most unique atmosphere.
