Activities

The invitation to our most recent chapitre was particularly enticing – and judging by the enthusiastic response, many found it simply irresistible. Indeed, more than a hundred people expressed a desire to attend.

In the end, it was the capacity of the Michelin-rated Restaurant du Théâtre in Monthey – awarded 17/20 by Gault & Millau – that set the limit at 92 guests. This number not only preserved the intimacy and quality of the tasting, but also allowed us to gather a vibrant and enthusiastic assembly. Remarkably, it also marks a new record for attendance in the history of our Commanderie since its founding in 1981!

Our guest of honour, Silvio Denz, captivated the audience with his passion for wine — a passion that led him to invest in properties such as Château Cap Faugères, Château Faugères, Château Péby Faugères, Château Rocheyron and Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, often in collaboration with renowned figures like Michel Rolland and Peter Sisseck.

This sensory journey began with Sweetz, a delightful cocktail based on Sauternes wine (sure to brighten your summer aperitifs), and culminated in a spectacular flourish with a Balthazar (12 litres) of Château Péby Faugères 2008 – one of the most exceptional terroirs of Saint-Émilion. Our Vinothécaire, Andrew Bayles, brought all his expertise to bear in serving the largest bottle ever presented at the Commanderie. Each stage of the lunch was marked by the depth and balance of the elegant wines so generously shared by Silvio.

We  celebrated the first Chapter of French-speaking Commanderies at the Hôtel Beau-Rivage in Geneva.  Many nationalities from three continents were part of the 120 participants to celebrate the excellence of Bordeaux wines.

Our friends in the other Commanderies were represented by :

– Louis Caouette, Master of the Commanderie de Bordeaux in Quebec City

– Antoine Juaristi, Master of the Commanderie de Bordeaux in Paris

– Thierry Sengier, Vice-Maître of the Commanderie de Bordeaux in Brussels

– Bruno Strässle, Master of the Commanderie de Bordeaux in Zurich

Each of them, with their different backgrounds and sensibilities, talked about their Commanderies and their vision of our shared passion.

To celebrate this meeting, five extraordinary women were also with us to present their prestigious châteaux:

Carol Duval-Leroy Maison Duval-Leroy

Séverine Bonnie Château Malartic-Lagravière

Florence Cathiard Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte

Elise de Baillencourt Château Gazin

Sandrine Garbay Château Guiraud

Our speakers were celebrated and recognised for their commitment.

No less than 97 people from 3 continents and more than 10 different countries gathered to experience a moment of sharing and discovery together at the beginning of autumn.

Participants were able to benefit from the refined and warm setting of the Grand Bellevue in Gstaad to welcome Emeline Borie, a worthy representative of her family, owner of Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste in Pauillac.

Emeline Borie retraced the history and passion of her family, who have restored the letters of nobility to this exceptional estate, but accompanied the words with action, by bringing the bottles retracing the iconic vintages of the estate from the acquisition of Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste in 1978 to the present day.

On Saturday 22 June 2024, members of the Commanderie and guests had the privilege of meeting Justine Tesseron, who had come especially to spend the day with us, to talk to us about the family estate Château Pontet Canet, and to regale us with the many stories and anecdotes about her estate. Justine brough with her representative wines spanning more than 4 decades, ending with the legendary 1982 vintage. And let’s not forget the incredible 2009 vintage, crowned by Robert Parker as a perfect wine with 100 points.

Justine also reminded everyone of her family’s original trade, which is cognac trading, by concluding the chapter with the nectar Tesseron 53, a collector’s cognac.

At the Domaine de Châteauvieux, chef Philippe Chevrier had organised a surprise lunch to go perfectly with the wines served. At the end of the meal, the guests stood to applaud this rare moment of near-perfection for several minutes. In this task, he was supported by the precise work of Christophe Montaud, head sommelier, who looked after the precious wines that were served, not to mention Esteban Valle, Maitre d’hôtel of the Year, who provided attentive and meticulous service.

A group of 25 people from the Commanderie travelled to Bordeaux to visit some of the prestigious châteaux of Pomerol. Warmly welcomed by the managers and owners of the estates, the group were able to appreciate the investment and expertise required to create world-renowned wines. Thanks to the support of the Grand Conseil des Vins de Bordeaux in the organising the programme, this tour of the appellation highlighted the history and importance of the Bordeaux wine industry, while underlining the welcoming attitude and generosity of the châteaux.

Those who attended the Spring Chapter, organised at the Hotel La Réserve in Bellevue, Geneva, to celebrate Château Cos d’Estournel, will be able to testify to having had the privilege of taking part in a unique and historic event.
We had a record attendance in the history of our Commanderie for a Spring Chapter. The Commandeurs and guests confirmed our desire to celebrate Cos, which is so dear to our hearts, and to do so in the magical setting of La Réserve.

Dimitri Augenblick, founder of the wonderful Twentywine wine club (www.twentywine.ch), and member of the family, was on hand to accompany us on our journey and tell us all about this family estate. This wine expert, former Director of Development at Château Cos d’Estournel, brought Cos to life through a wealth of details and anecdotes. He had a big surprise in store for us: to round off the primeur campaign in style, Dimitri brought the primeur wines from the Place de Bordeaux to Bellevue, giving us a unique opportunity to take part in this great moment in the life of the Bordeaux wine merchants.

To round off our 2023 vintage, 87 people came to celebrate our Gala chapter at the Lausanne Palace. This memorable evening was orchestrated with mastery and refinement by our esteemed Chapter Manager Daria Shalunova, whose expertise and dedication were essential to the success of this event. Her keen eye for detail, creativity and professionalism created an unforgettable evening for all the participants who had travelled from many different places in the world. As for our Vinothecaire Andrew Bayles, he brought out the nuggets that had been patiently selected and carefully preserved over many years, making them shine in our glasses in perfect harmony with the subtle dishes served.

When Château Giscours was announced as being the wine for this Chapter, registrations went through the roof, reaching a staggering 98 participants – a record for an autumn chapter!

Our Chapter Manager, Daria Shalunova, had to be inventive, pushing the walls here and there to ensure that all the participants could enjoy this special moment in the comfort of the Grand Bellevue hotel.

Our guest of honour, Laure Bastard, Director of Château Giscours, captivated the audience with a wealth of anecdotes, as well as an educational film about the estate of rare quality.

The Board has expressed its gratitude to Daniel Koetser, owner and President of the Grand Bellevue Hotel, as well as to Fabian Nusser, General Manager, and the entire team for their hard work in making our stay as memorable as it was comfortable.

We were 83 people to welcome and celebrate Claire and Gonzague Lurton! That was a record number in the history of our Commanderie for a summer chapter. We were able to discover multiple wines coming from Château Durfort-Vivens, Château Ferrière, Château Haut-Bages Libéral, Château La Gurgue and Acaibo. No less than 17 different wines were tasted, accompanied by the informative and passionate comments of their makers.

The chapter took place in the idyllic setting of the Restaurant des Trois Tours in Bourguillon (near Fribourg), under the attentive eye of the chef Romain Paillereau, who was able to marry with talent his delicate and elegant cuisine with such fine wines from Bordeaux. This task was in fact for him only a formality, as he originates from Bordeaux.