La Lettre du Grand Conseil du vin de Bordeaux April 2015

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This marvellous idea conceived by our Founding President, Henri Martin, of bringing together all the Bordeaux wine brotherhoods under the banner of the Grand Conseil, has led to

The Grand Conseil s activities New Year s wishes presented to Mr Alain Juppé, Mayor of Bordeaux On Wednesday 7 th January 2015, the Mayor of Bordeaux, Mr Alain Juppé, invited

to the ceremony where new year s wishes are presented by Bordeaux Metropolis (formerly known as Urban Community of Bordeaux), attended by elected representatives of the City

1 La Lettre du Grand Conseil du vin de Bordeaux April 2015 Message from the Grand Maître Dear friends, This very first newsletter gives me the opportunity to thank you all for your unfailing enthusiasm in sharing our love of Bordeaux Wines and conveying this in all parts of the world. This marvellous idea conceived by our Founding President, Henri Martin, of bringing together all the Bordeaux wine brotherhoods under the banner of the Grand Conseil, has led to the creation of 85 Bordeaux Commanderies around the world. The Grand Conseil s activities New Year s wishes presented to Mr Alain Juppé, Mayor of Bordeaux On Wednesday 7 th January 2015, the Mayor of Bordeaux, Mr Alain Juppé, invited members of the G.C.V.B. to the ceremony where new year s wishes are presented by Bordeaux Metropolis (formerly known as Urban Community of Bordeaux), attended by elected representatives of the City Council. We needed a link to communicate more efficiently, to inform one another and share our ideas and activities. The future is in our hands and it will be what we make of it, particularly for the inauguration of new Commanderies. This quarterly newsletter is also yours. I count on you to expand it, make it exist and develop it. With my sincerest friendship, Hubert de Boüard de Laforest President and Grand Maître of the Grand Conseil du Vin de Bordeaux Hubert de Boüard and Alain Juppé On 26 th January 2015, Hubert de Boüard, the Grand Maître, the members of the Privy Council and representatives of 15 Bordeaux Wine brotherhoods presented their best wishes for the New Year to the Mayor of Bordeaux, Alain Juppé, at the City Hall. **** Procession of the Grand Conseil du Vin de Bordeaux s delegation, followed by representatives of 15 wine brotherhoods in front of Bordeaux s Opera House, making their

2 way to the Palais Rohan, City Hall, where Mr Alain Juppé awaited them. New Commanderies Commanderie in the French-speaking part of Switzerland On 28 th February, the General Meeting of the Bordeaux Commanderie in the Frenchspeaking part of Switzerland was held. Following this meeting, Alexandre Dembitz, the new Maître, took over from Christophe Salvatore. based on the West Coast of the United States from 17 th to 25 th April On 23 rd January 2015, Francis Boutemy travelled to Bristol for the nomination of Sue Darwall-Smith as Maître of the Bristol Commanderie, taking over from Paul Chedgy, Territorial Grand Maître of all the British Commanderies. On 18 th February, Francis Boutemy attended the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Bordeaux Commanderie in Southern Belgium, which saw the election of Christophe Waterkeyn, who takes over from Henri Dermul. On 3 th March, Johan Strenström, new commandeur of Malmö takes over from Tommy Cervin. Commanderie in Australia. During its Chapter, seven new members were inducted, including Christophe Lecourtier, French Ambassador in Australia. Commanderie in Riga. A Chapter will be held on 21 st May 2015, which will see the revival of this Commanderie. Commanderie in Madrid. A Chapter hold on 10 th February 2015 in the presence of Philipe de Casteja. Commanderie of the Netherlands. Spring Chapter, Saturday 18 th April, of the new Maître Hub Harmeling. This section of the Newsletter belongs to you. We welcome all news from your Commanderies. The Grand Conseil s trips abroad and visits from Commanderies During the month of February, the Grand Maître Hubert de Boüard was present at the US Board, attended by Maîtres of the American Commanderies. Having visited 8 American Commanderies in November 2014, he will visit Commanderies On 13 th March, Francis Boutemy was present at the General Meeting and dinner organised by the Bordeaux Commanderie in Zurich. Visits to Bordeaux from various Commanderies From 26 th February to 2 nd March From 19 th to 24 th April 2015 From 3rd to 8 th May 2015 From 9 th to 15 th May 2015 From 23 rd to 27 th May 2015 From 31 st May to 3 rd June 2015 From 11 th to 13 th June 2015 From 8 th to 12 th September 2015 October 2015 Inaugurations of Commanderies in 2015 Saint Louis Detroit Cleveland Quebec Wallonia Flanders Madrid Salzburg Oslo Cardiff and Beirut in October, Stockholm in November, Saigon at the end of the year. SAVE THE DATE: World Convention of the Bordeaux Commanderies From Monday 20 th June to Thursday 23 rd June 2016

New wine brotherhoods, management organisations and wine associations activities, devoted to Bordeaux s fine wines, with a tasting, a dinner and an auction.

The Union des Grands Crus gave pride of place to the 2012 vintage during its trips abroad: From 22 nd to 31 st January, in North America From 9 th to 12 th February in Europe - Paris, Brussels and

the Great Growths Weekend will be celebrated at a prestigious location in Bordeaux (information to be given later), during which the 2012 vintage will be highlighted along with another, which is as

3 New wine brotherhoods, management organisations and wine associations activities, devoted to Bordeaux s fine wines, with a tasting, a dinner and an auction. The Commanderie du Bontemps, Médoc, Graves, Sauternes & Barsac celebrated the day of the patron saint of winegrowers, Saint Vincent, on 18 th January 2015 at the Halles de Gascogne in Léognan. The Union des Grands Crus gave pride of place to the 2012 vintage during its trips abroad: From 22 nd to 31 st January, in North America From 9 th to 12 th February in Europe - Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam From 2 nd to 6 th March in Asia - Chengdu, Taipei, Singapore and Hong Kong On 16 th March in Dusseldorf during the Prowein exhibition On 30 th and 31 st May 2015, the 10 th anniversary of the Great Growths Weekend will be celebrated at a prestigious location in Bordeaux (information to be given later), during which the 2012 vintage will be highlighted along with another, which is as yet unknown. The Grand Cercle des Vins de Bordeaux, during a trip to Scandinavia - Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki - presented the 2012 vintage to wine enthusiast members of the Orske Vinklubbers Forbund, the Munskänkarna, the Viinilehti Oy and to professionals from the state monopolies. The Académie du vin de Bordeaux: On 27 th February 2015, during a wine tasting dinner, the ampelologist Doctor José Vouillamoz gave a conference on the subject of The history and future of grape varieties, to members of the Académie du vin de Bordeaux. With the event BurdiGala, New York spotlights were lit up on Bordeaux on 13 th March It was a day for charitable Union des Crus Classés de Graves. On 17 th March, Jean-Jacques Bonnie (Château Malartic-Lagravière) took over Eric Perrin (Château Carbonnieux) for a 3-year term of office at the head of the Union des Crus Classés de Graves. The Pessac-Léognan Syndicat gave pride of place to the art of matching food, wine and music, by holding, on 1 st February at Bordeaux s Opera House, a tasting of white and red wines served with various cheeses, following a Concert en balade with oboe, piano and bassoon. On 2 nd March, a tasting of Pessac-Léognan wines (red 2011 and white 2012) was held at the Hôtel-Dieu in Toulouse. It was followed by a charitable, fund-raising auction and then a superb dinner concocted by three Michelinstarred chefs, N. Brousse, Y.Delpech and O.Garcia. The Entre-Deux-Mers appellation: on 3 rd March 2015, managers of this appellation held a prize-giving ceremony for the TOP VIN competition at the C.I.V.B. Next April and May this year, they will organise Springtime in white in Bordeaux. THE 2014 VINTAGE On 23 rd March, the Stock Exchange Building in Bordeaux welcomed members of the Association des Grands Crus Classés de Saint- Emilion for a preview tasting of 2014 Primeurs.

4 On 31 st March 2015, during its gala dinner, the Académie du vin de Bordeaux, will begin the week of Primeur 2014 presentations. This vintage will be unveiled from 30 th March to 2 nd April in accordance with the following schedule: For the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux see The Pessac-Léognan Syndicate will hold its tasting on Monday 30 th March at Château Smith Haut-Lafitte. For the Association de Grands Crus Classés de Saint-Emilion see: For the Cercle des Grands vins de Bordeaux, from 30 th March to 1 st April at Château Barde Haut in Saint Christophe des Bardes for the Right Bank and Château d Agassac in Ludon Médoc for the Left Bank. The Crus Bourgeois du Médoc at Château d Arsac from 31 st March mars to 2 nd April. This week of Primeur wine tasting will be concluded by the vintage declaration, organised by Commanderie du Bontemps Médoc Graves Sauternes & Barsac on 1 str April at the CAPC Museum in Bordeaux. Please note: Mr Robert Parker will not be attending the Primeur tastings this year; he hands over to Mr Neal Martin. Live from the Bordeaux winegrowing region On 20 th March 2015, the C.I.V.B. organised the 7 th forum for sustainable development, entitled From sustainable development to a circular economy. The Fédération des Exportateurs de Vins et Spiritueux (FEVS) has drawn up a balancesheet showing a decline for A historically low harvest quantity in 2013; a drop in the Chinese market; competition from European and North American markets in 2014 Parity between Euro and Dollar will enable us to get back to competitive export prices again. Indication appearing in the Official Journal of 14 th & 15 th May News from the Médoc: This large winegrowing area held open days for the general public on 28 th and 29 th March At the inter-châteaux vine-pruning championships, the team from Château Lynch- Bages, headed by Nelson Pires, kept hold of its title as best pruning expert for the season. Château Gruaud-Larose, Saint-Julien Classified Growth, has just completed the construction of an 18-metre tall stainless steel tower, which houses a tasting room and shop; a terrace at the top of the tower gives a 360 view over gardens planted with a multitude of varieties of trees and plants, designed by Vincent Lurton. The inauguration is planned for April. Château Beychevelle is equipping itself with a new barrel storehouse. Construction work is scheduled to finish at the end of As part of combating imitations, the Conseil des Vins de Saint-Emilion has developed an anti-theft stamp, for any winegrower wishing to use it. This stamp should gradually be extended to other Bordeaux appellations. A few words about the 2014 vintage: a vintage which is in line with the traditional Bordeaux style and also very floral; the liveliness of white blossom fragrances for dry white wines, to the shimmering charm of black berries, red fruits and old rose for all the red wines and a grand finale for sweet white wines with their infinite range of tropical fruit aromas mingled with scents of springtime. Pleasant, quite delicate and possessing relatively good ageing potential (within 5 years)... Fine Bordeaux, a little known eau de vie, is ready to bounce back after having received official approval with a Geographical

BORDEAUX, the city For our city, February was a month full of varied and diverse events: On 11 th February, Bordeaux was elected European Best Destination 2015, ahead of Lisbon.

On 12 th February, dry white Bordeaux wines, Entre-Deux-Mers, white Bordeaux, Graves and Pessac-Léognan, were highlighted for the first time at the CIVB s Wine Bar, for tastings of the 2013 and 2014

5 BORDEAUX, the city For our city, February was a month full of varied and diverse events: On 11 th February, Bordeaux was elected European Best Destination 2015, ahead of Lisbon. The seal of approval, organised by an independent organisation called European Best Destinations established in Brussels, is based on votes from Internet users in 113 countries. On 12 th February, dry white Bordeaux wines, Entre-Deux-Mers, white Bordeaux, Graves and Pessac-Léognan, were highlighted for the first time at the CIVB s Wine Bar, for tastings of the 2013 and 2014 vintages. The premises of the Political Sciences School, located in the centre of the university campus in Talence, welcomed the Grand Cercle des Vins de Bordeaux, to give an introduction to wine tasting to students from three wine clubs at schools in the Bordeaux urban area (Sciences-Po, Inseec, Kedge) in view of organizing a competition to be held between these clubs. The objective is to pass on wine culture to these students. 25 th February, the 574 wooden arches covering the permanent tour on the second level were covered with plywood and a watertight black membrane; window panes are about to be fitted in the tower. The Centre for Wine Civilisations is now visible from the Wet Docks, the wharfs and the Place des Quinconces. For more information, follow this link: The Foundation for wine culture and civilisation, whose head office is based in Bordeaux, was officially recognised by the decree of 11 th December 2014 as an establishment promoting public interest. According to the magazine Objectif Aquitaine, it stands at 23 rd position for the top 100 business recruiting in the Bordeaux region. For the first time, Bordeaux Metropolis is launching its Moon Marathon, the first nighttime marathon, to be held between 18 th and 19 th April 2015: The Fête du Fleuve, river festival, will take place from Friday 22 nd to Saturday 30 th May 2015 and the theme this year will be The tree and the river. The magnificent, three-mast sailing ship, the Belem, is scheduled to arrive for this event. On Friday 22 nd May sailing boats taking part in the 46 th event of the Figaro Solo race will draw up alongside the quays in Bordeaux. Anchors will be raised on May 30 th 2015, to head for Pauillac, where the boats will set sail for this solo race the next day on Sunday 31 st May. Index of abbreviations: C.I.V.B.: Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bordeaux - Bordeaux Wine Trade Council G.C.V.B.: Grand Conseil du Vin de Bordeaux U.G.C.: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux - Union of Bordeaux Great Growths The Centre for Wine Civilisations: the construction site is making headway The scenes of the permanent tour were unveiled to the scientific and cultural steering committee and to leading figures from scientific, cultural and university spheres of all nationalities. On

Presentation. English

Presentation. English Presentation English 800 000 visitors expected 80 wine appellations 120 «grands crus» 1 200 winemakers and négociants 30 local food producers 30 tall ships 1 big wheel 60 meters high A 3-kilometer «open-air