ボルドー最高評議会
the Grand conseil du vin de bordeaux
CommanderIES, wine brotherhoods

On Friday 26^th November 2021, Peter Russell – Maître and his Commanderie de Bordeaux in Manchester held a superb evening and ceremony at the Midland Hotel, in the Trafford Suite, to induct the new Maître, Mr Colin Smith.  A gala dinner for 89 guests followed the ceremony.

Also present at this evening reception, Maîtres Emérites Sir Netar Mallick and Don Hammond; Sue Darwall-Smith – Maître of the Commanderie de Bordeaux in Bristol, with her husband Simon; John East – Maître of the Commanderie de Bordeaux in London and Gordon White – Vinothécaire of the Commanderie de Bordeaux in Edinburgh. 

 The Grand Maître du Grand Conseil de Vin de Bordeaux was represented by Jean-Marc Dulong, member of the GCVB's executive board, who gave a speech to thank Peter Russell sincerely for all his work as Maître.

“Dear Peter,

Your Commanderie is, after Bristol, one of the oldest British Commanderies, with 33 years of existence and it is also one of the most dynamic. For this reason, the men and women of Bordeaux Wine are very grateful to you.

You took over from Don Hammond in 2015 and for 6 years you brought this Commanderie to life in an atmosphere of conviviality and friendship, without overlooking your role as a Bordeaux wine ambassador. The gala events and tastings you organise regularly are an example for other Commanderies; your participation, along with the Grand Conseil, to induct VIPs in Liverpool in 2017, and your loyalty to the Bordeaux region, by organising trips to our vineyards every 2 years. We look forward to welcoming you and Eve during your next stay in May 2022 as well as some of your members at our World Congress of the Commanderies, from September 14th to 16th 2022.

You are stepping down from the presidency of the Bordeaux Commanderie in Manchester and for everything that you have accomplished, I present to you, on behalf of the Grand Conseil du Vin de Bordeaux, our warmest thanks, as well as all our gratitude.”

Colin SMITH, the new Maître of the Commanderie de Bordeaux in Manchester.

Member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux in Manchester since 2008 and Secretary of the Commanderie for more than 8 years. Formerly Executive Director for a banking group, Colin is now retired.

Since taking retirement, Colin has progressed from being a social “jogger” to a fanatic runner, running 5 times a week. He has taken part in many 10 km races, as well as semi-marathons and Colin ran his first marathon in 2016 in Manchester. Since then, he has run six different marathons, including the ‘Majors’, in London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New York (3h55). He hopes to take part in the “Major” final in Tokyo, in March 2022. He also plans to run the Marathon of the Médoc Châteaux, in Bordeaux in September 2022.

To see more photos of this magnificent gala evening and read the full report written by Adrian Bennett, click HERE