The flight: between dream and precision

The meeting was at 4 pm at Château Boutisse, in Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes, for an afternoon that promised to be as poetic as it was technical. On site, the team of Marc Milhade, winemaker and passionate pilot, greeted guests with that blend of ease and rigor unique to wine folk.

But here, we weren't just spectators. As soon as we arrived, everyone literally puts a hand on the fabric: we help unfold the huge envelope, hold the balloon's mouth during cold inflation, then watch, amazed, as hot air starts giving it life. Motors purr, fabric rises, and suddenly, the balloon takes shape in front of us - gigantic, almost alive.

This direct contact changes everything. You don't "take a flight": you take part in a collective adventure, a precise, choreographed ritual where every gesture counts. You discover that ballooning is at once science, art and coordination.

A few minutes later, we're in the air - noiseless, vibration-free, carried only by the wind. Beneath our eyes, Saint-Émilion unfolds: the bell tower rises, the châteaux take shape, rows of vines form perfect lines stretching to the horizon. The flight is no longer mere contemplation: it's the culmination of a moment lived from inside, where you understand what « flying together » means.

A complete experience, sensory and human - from the earth up to the sky.

A rare experience, between light and warmth

The moment is magic: the golden evening light slides over grape clusters still on the vines, the Garonne shimmers in the distance, and a soothing silence wraps the basket. Only a few laughs, the click of cameras (if mine makes noise) and the burner's hiss break the calm (by the way... it heats up, you won't catch cold).

Around us, other balloons color the Saint-Émilion sky.

From up there, the world seems softer, slower, as if every second had reclaimed its value. And then there's that feeling of humility: we float above centuries of work, landscapes shaped by human hands and the earth's generosity.

The experience isn't just beautiful; it's moving.

At landing, in a neighboring field, the welcome is simple and warm. Chats continue between aeronautics enthusiasts, wine lovers and curious souls, all united by the beauty of the shared moment. The balloons make the show!

Another way of talking about wine, our magnificent region and Bordeaux more broadly

This balloon flight is more than a private event: it's a love letter to Saint-Émilion. It shows that wine isn't just a product, but a landscape, an emotion, a light you can now discover from the sky. This initiative, led by Marc Milhade and the vignes et ballons association, illustrates this new generation of winemakers: rooted in tradition, but open to experience, to encounters, to poetry. Flying above their vineyard is understanding their approach: watching the territory, feeling it live, sharing it differently. It's also a reminder that Bordeaux isn't just about cellars or barrel rooms - it's a way of living that lifts off.

Thanks to Marc Milhade, winemaker, pilot and sky storyteller, to his family, his wife, his kids, to Chloé Fourny, to the whole vignes et ballons association for this rare, sincere and unforgettable invitation… and of course to their dog, guardian and lay-in-the-road fan.

Between sky and vines, we rediscovered Saint-Émilion - no longer from the ground, but from the wind. And for those still wondering what it feels like?

Let's just say this: it's a bit like raising your glass above the world. 🍇🎈