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

Ceremony for the Opening of the Commanderie de Bordeaux of Chinese people in France

Wednesday 6th September 2023
at Château Lagrange, 33250 Saint-Julien

5.30 pm – Welcome for Guests – Cocktail – Presentation of works by the artist Yanyan CHEN
7.00 pm – Induction Ceremony for Maître Ting LIU and the Commandeurs
7.30 pm – Gala Dinner – Dress code: Black Tie / Evening dress

At Château Lagrange, in Saint-Julien, on Wednesday 6^th September 2023, took place the Opening Ceremony for the Commanderie de Bordeaux for Chinese people living in France, presided over by the Grand Maître of the Grand Conseil Du Vin de Bordeaux, Jean-Marc Dulong.

For this Opening Ceremony and Gala Dinner, participants and guests were welcomed by Benjamin Vimal, Technical Director of Château Lagrange.

A visit of Château Lagrange was organised in the afternoon and followed by a cocktail reception at 6.30 pm to welcome guests, with two musicians, Mei Qi Chen & Ran An, who played traditional Chinese melodies. At this occasion, an exhibition of works, “paintings on silk fans”, was presented by the Chinese artist, Yanyan Chen, who also became a member of this new Commanderie. 

Grand Maître Jean-Marc Dulong, was accompanied by members of the GCVB’s Executive Board: Emmanuelle Miller (and for the Connétablie des Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux), Nathalie Escurédo, Benoît Souliès (and for Les Gentilshommes du Duché de Fronsac), and by Caroline Delaroche and Anne-Marie Capdemourlin. Representing the Bordeaux Wine Brotherhoods : for the Commanderie du Bontemps Sainte Croix du Mont, Olivier Fleury and Michael Van Casteren; for the Connétablie des Premières Côtes de Bordeaux & Cadillac, Hugues Hardy.

At 7pm, the opening ceremony began by the induction of the Maître, Ms. Ting Liu. She is an Expert in sales and distribution of works of art, specialising in modern art.

Maître Ting Liu then inducted the 8 members of the Commanderie de Bordeaux of Chinese people living in France :

Fen Zhu – Vice-Maître (Managing Director of Les Clos Elysées Import Export)
Hubert Burnerau – Honorary Maître (Ex Vice-Grand Maître of the Grand Conseil du Vin de Bordeaux)
Jean-Jacques Pothier – Commandeur (Formerly Consul of the French Embassy for West Japan and formerly Deputy Consul at the Consulate General of France in Wuhan)
Yi Ze Zhang – Commandeur (private pilot)
You Shang – Commandeur (Lawyer)
Li Jing Zhang – Commandeur (Shareholder in the sphere of beauty and fashion)
Yan Yan Chen – Commandeur (Artist - traditional and modern art)
Xiu Hua Huang - Commandeur (Import-Export of wines and jewellery)

A Gala Dinner held in the reception room of Château Lagrange followed this ceremony.

The wines for this Dinner, as well as for the Cocktail reception and for the Cellar of this new Commanderie were generously provided by Bordeaux winegrowers, via their Wine Syndicates/Wine Brotherhoods. The Grand Conseil du Vin de Bordeaux is keen to thank them all sincerely for their contribution.