A successful AGM with a lovely meal and some nice wines, enhanced by excellent company!

An evening of fine wine and food together with the intronisation of two new members.

What better way to spend a cold January night than to meet with friends old and new over delicious wines and dinner! Here is the menu that tempted us out into the cold.

A spectacular evening of food, wine and Opera to get the senses singing!

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. 

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! 

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. 

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.

The modern plain interiors of the Innside; were a buzz with excited guests and the Commanderie were looked after by professional staff at an exceedingly enjoyable evening at the Innside.

Despite the best attempts of HSBC’s UK City Ride to close off half of Manchester and the British summer’s traditional hide and seek games a very happy afternoon was spent by the Commanderie at the King Street Town house. 

The Commanderie made its annual pilgrimage to the Alderley Edge Hotel for its AGM and dinner and enjoyed their first opportunity for some to go into summer plumage with their white dinner jackets and summer frocks (even though the weather hardly justified it!).

A dinner hosted by Commanderie de Bordeaux & Jurade de Saint-Emilion at the beautiful Merchant Taylors' Hall. 

A 29th birthday party is not normally something for a big “do”, but none the less one for celebration and considered anticipation! 

However, it was duly commemorated and with 62 participants and the extra benefit of attendance from Francis Boutemy from the Grand Conseil in Bordeaux. 

Commanders invited a number of guests who could be interested in joining the Manchester Commanderie. The evening commenced with Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne and there was a light fresh and fruity aperitif with hints of apple and pear.