The Commanderie de Bordeaux à Manchester received its Charter from Le Grand Conseil de Vins de Bordeaux in March 1988 and has been learning about, enjoying and spreading the word about the wines of Bordeaux ever since. Dinners, wine tasting and visits to Bordeaux take place at regular intervals.
The Christmas markets were already in full swing on an autumnal evening in central Manchester and the Midland Hotel and the Commanderie were on fine form. We enjoyed getting together for a dinner and the opportunity to welcome 2 new Commandeurs to the Commanderie.
A very pleasant meal with some fine wines and excellent company in an exceptional venue made for an “entent cordiale” between two esteemed wine groups in Northern England; with a hope that we can have “ever closer union”, even whilst our political masters seek to increase separation from our European friends.
After a fabulous debut in Manchester Hall’s grand, Grade II listed surrounds last year, Festival favourite, the Big Indie Wine Fest will be returning to the venue for an extra special, bigger than ever Big Indie Wine Fest! As ever Manchester’s finest independent wine merchants along with some from further afield will create a heavenly wine experience suitable for conosiour wine fans and novices alike. Expect a stunning breadth of wines Commanderie Bordeaux, and Others
The summer had turned to autumn but with no rain, lovely sunshine and and balmy temperature for late September in Manchester, the weather was set fair for our wine tasting at the Innside; and what a treat we were in for!
We were spared the full heat of this very dry summer but still enjoyed our very nice Heinseck Champagne on the veranda overlooking the Manchester skyline from the King Street Town House. The gentlemen were resplendent in their summer suits and the ladies in their best summer frocks! All commandeurs with their regalia and ready to intronise two new members to the cause of promoting Bordeaux wine.
As we gathered that the Alderley Edge for our Annual General Meeting there was a faint tang of moth balls. However this was not the venue, or the palate or nose on any of our wines, but more the sign that summer had arrived and the white dinner jackets had been allowed their first outing of the year! Thankfully the weather had also got the message and so the sunshine allowed a gathering for the AGM to be an inside and outside event. The summery feel was aided by some surprisingly fresh tasting Chateau Bauduc Sauvignon Blanc 2014 as it is supposed to be reaching the end of its drinking window and some very edible hors d’oeuvres.
The Midland Hotel was the chosen for our 30th Fête d’Anniversaire and we had all the ingredients for an excellent birthday party; and enjoyable celebrations they were too!
Those that didn’t attend the excellent supper and opera at the Royal Northern College of Music missed a treat. Not only were we treated to delicious wine and food but we were also privileged to attend opera of a very high standard.
The Commanderie fought its way through the shoppers at the Christmas markets to attend the ever popular Midland Hotel. There was a healthy turnout and the champagne flowed freely as we gathered.
Bordeaux is the world's major wine industry capital. It is home to the world's main wine fair, Vinexpo, and the wine economy in the metro area takes in 14.5 billion euros each year. Bordeaux wine has been produced in the region since the 8th century. After Paris, Bordeaux has the highest number of preserved historical buildings of any city in France.
An excellent evening at the Great John Street Hotel. Along with the brilliant food, we were able to welcome Mark Nolan to an exciting intronization.