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1 PRESS Release - june 2017

2 Bordeaux Fête le Vin 2018 welcomes the Tall Ships Regatta Bordeaux wines and legendary sailboats From Thursday to Monday, June 14-18, 2018, Bordeaux Fête le Vin will celebrate its 20th anniversary and host the finale of the Liverpool-Dublin-Bordeaux Tall Ships Regatta Bordeaux Fête le Vin, devoted to wines from Bordeaux and the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, will be held from June 14-18, 2018, along the Bordeaux riverfront, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In just a matter of years, with hundreds of thousands of visitors, the biennial festival has become the leading European wine tourism event. For its 20th anniversary, the guest of honour at Bordeaux Fête le Vin will be the prestigious Tall Ships Regatta, a race bringing together the world s biggest and most eyecatching sailboats for a regatta that will take them from Liverpool to Dublin and then Bordeaux. The boats will drop anchor in the Port de la Lune on June 14th and set sail again on the morning of Monday, June 18th, in a tall ships parade. Over the 4-day period, Bordeaux will be the capital of wine... and sailing, the theme of this anniversary festival! Bordeaux Fête le Vin The biennial event muchawaited by Bordeaux residents and visitors from around the world. In the late 1990s, Alain Juppé, first elected mayor in 1995, launched the project. "We want the Bordeaux population to once again enjoy its proximity with the Garonne River. The docks currently being rehabilitated are a natural place for gathering and taking walks. It seems obvious to us that they should be turned into a festive place," the Mayor explained, adding that, at the same time, a tribute could be paid to the wine industry, which he felt was insufficiently honoured at the time. The closer relationship that ensued between the city and the world of wine fostered the creation of Bordeaux Fête le Vin, in June The success of the event held every two years has continued to grow non-stop ever since. From 150,000 visitors in 1998, attendance soared to 650,000 at the latest festival in Bordeaux: its wine and port From time immemorial in the history of Bordeaux, its wines and port seem to have experienced similar destinies. They have leaned on one another to develop, to rise to the highest level in maritime trade, and contribute to the city s growing fame. In 2018, the port will relive the thrill of the legendary Cutty Sark race, which brought together hundreds of thousands of people along the riverfront in 1990.

3 On the wine front Wine tastings and events, plus cultural and artistic happenings to celebrate the festival turning 20 in Along a 2-kilometer "open-air wine road" set up on the Garonne riverfront, the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected will have an opportunity to meet Bordeaux winemakers and négociants as well as enjoy the splendid sailing event. Winemakers and négociants representing about 80 appellations will greet visitors in "pop-up wine bars" open for the pleasures of tasting, sharing and discovering. A unique opportunity to discover the quality, authenticity and diversity of Bordeaux wines. Although access to the different Villages set up along the riverfront is open and free of charge, the Tasting Pass is the essential tool for discovering and tasting the quality and diversity of Aquitaine and Bordeaux wines. The digital Tasting Pass (using RFID - Radio Frequency Identification), a new feature at the 2016 festival, will be on sale again in 2018 at the same price. With the Vineyard Pass, Bordeaux Fête le Vin visitors can round out their discovery of Bordeaux wines with excursions to wine estates, departing from the Festival. Tasting workshops will be run by the Bordeaux Wine Council s École du Vin with themes including Bordeaux wine aromas, blending techniques and food-wine pairing. Cultural & artistic happenings and fireworks will also be on the agenda. Pass Dégustation Early Bird purchase December 1-15, 2017 Advance purchase March 1 - June 13, 2018 On-site purchase June 14-18, 2018 Contest A contest will be organised on social media in late June 2017 to win 100 tasting passes.

4 On the ocean front TM Guest of honour : the impressive Tall Ships Regatta On June 14th, the arrival of some thirty ships in the Port de la Lune, with their sails, flags and banners will be a magnificent display paying tribute to Bordeaux Fête le Vin stretching out along the riverfront. In 2018, the Tall Ships Regatta will leave from Liverpool, make a stop in Dublin and end with the grand finale in Bordeaux. Liverpool will be celebrating the Regatta from May 25th - 28th, Dublin from June 1st - 4th and finally Bordeaux from June 14th - 18th. Three highlights and three festivals that will each celebrate sailing, in its own way. Between each of the three festival stop-overs, it ll be time for sailing out to sea! The fleet will leave Liverpool on May 28th, and arrive in Dublin on June 1st, i.e. four days of sailing, and it will then raise anchor from Dublin on June 4th, arriving in the Port de la Lune ten days later. Crews from all over as well as ordinary travel and sailing enthusiasts will mix together on board the tall ships from the world over. Within this framework, young people aged 16 to 25, of all origins, are invited to join this unique, historic event. Apart from Navy sailboats, all the other boats accept both novice and experienced sailors on board. All you need is a taste for adventure and a passion for traveling! While moored at the dock, most of the vessels participating in the Tall Ships Regatta will gladly welcome visitors aboard (free of charge) for daytime tours. To fully enjoy the view looking out over the Garonne and the superb ships, a Ferris wheel will be set up at Place des Quinconces, right next to the river (free of charge). REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Atlantic Ocean Dublin Bay of Biscay Liverpool UK FRANCE Bordeaux

5 On the sailing front Become a sailor trainee during the Tall Ships Regatta All aboard (soon)! Become a sailor trainee from Liverpool to Bordeaux (approx. three weeks) or from Dublin to Bordeaux (approx. two weeks)! That s the chance being offered to dozens of volunteers! They ll take part in a unique experience aboard one of the tall ships participating in the regatta. No special requirements for volunteering and becoming a trainee, except applicants must be passionate, enthusiastic, and available for two or three weeks, speak (a little) English, be ready to pitch in on board and contribute to the expenses of their trip Registration and terms available as from September

6 Organisation Bordeaux Fête le Vin welcomes the Tall Ships Regatta is organised by: Bordeaux Grands Événements & Bordeaux Métropole, in partnership with the CIVB, Sail Training International, Amis des Grands Voiliers, and the AANA with the support of the City of Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, Bordeaux Métropole Tourist Office and the Club des Grands partenaires of Bordeaux Grands Événements. Press contacts Convention and Tourism Office of Bordeaux - Métropole Sophie Gaillard-Mairal / Alaïs Perret s.gaillard@bordeaux-tourisme.com - a.perret@bordeaux-tourisme.com +33 (0) / +33(0) CIVB Valérie Descudet valerie.descudet@vins-bordeaux.fr +33 (0) Bordeaux City Hall Nicolas Corne / Maryvonne Fruauff n.corne@mairie-bordeaux.fr / m.fruauff@mairie-bordeaux.fr +33(0) Bordeaux Métropole Alain Lamaison / Benoît Javot alamaison@bordeaux-metropole.fr - bjavot@bordeaux-metropole.fr +33 (0) / +33 (0) Bordeaux Grands Événements 12 Cours du XXX Juillet - CS BORDEAUX CEDEX +33 (0) bge@bordeaux-tourisme.com