Commanderie de Bordeaux in South Africa - new chapter opens

Bordeaux is the most successful fine wine appellation in the world with leading brands such as Château Lafite and Mouton, household names.  The Commanderie de Bordeaux is an association of over 5000 wine lovers constituted into 79 chapters in 26 countries who endeavour to promote the wines and quality values of Bordeaux.  The head (Grand Maître) of the Commanderie is Emmanuel Cruse, owner of Château d’Issan, who officiated at the creation of the first South African chapter of the Commanderie at La Motte on Wednesday 24^th August.

The host of the establishment function and first member of the SA chapter to be inducted  was Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg who reminded guests that the wine industries of Bordeaux and South Africa are both partly the result of commercial activities of Dutch merchants in the middle of the 17^th century.    

Thirty South African wine personalities were inducted into the SA chapter including prominent winemakers, journalists, retailers, restaurateurs and hoteliers.  SA wine making legend Günter Brözel, Nederburg cellarmaster for 33 years, became the first honorary member.  The establishment of the Commanderie in South Africa concluded with a splendid five course dinner at the Pierneef à La Motte restaurant at which some of the most iconic wines of Bordeaux were served.

The foundation of the Commanderie in South Africa comes at an opportune time for SA wine, embattled as it is by financial and social pressures.  With 30 of the leading personalities of SA wine commandeurs, a useful forum for discussion and action to address some of the challenges facing SA wine, has been created.

 

 

Winemakers:

                         •           Etienne le Riche

                         •           Johan Malan

                         •           Razvan Macici

                         •           Tariro Masayiti

                         •           Johan Joubert

                         •           Neil Ellis

                         •           Debbie Thompson

                         •           André van Rensburg

                         •           Pieter Ferreira

                         •           Anthony Hamilton-Russell

                         •           Hein Koegelenberg

 

           •           Duimpie Bayly

           •           Johann Krige

           •           Jean Engelbrecht

           •           Anne Cointreau

           •           Jan Coetzee

           •           Marilyn Cooper

           •           Christine Rudman

           •           Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg (Maître)

           •           Danie de Wet

           •           Ray Edwards

           •           Tinus van Niekerk (Fondateur Commandeur)

Cuisine:

                         •           Fortunato Mazzone

                         •           Susan Huxter

                         •           Carrie Adams

                         •           Caroline Rillema

                         •           Fiona McDonald

                         •           Jeanri-Tine van Zyl

                         •           Melvyn Minnaar

                         •           Neil Pendock

 

“Hosting this prestigious function at the La Motte estate bears testament to the standing that South Africa has in the global wine market, and on a personal level it shows our commitment to the South African wine industry and the pride that we feel in the quality wines that our beautiful country produces,” Hein Koegelenberg, CEO of La Motte.

 

For more information about the La Motte estate, please visit www.la-motte.com or call +27 (0) 21 876 8000.

For more information on the Commanderie de Bordeaux please visit
http://www.grandconseilvinsbordeaux.com/ or http://www.commanderie.org/

 

 

Written by:

Neil Pendock