Wine Community Leaders to Explore Global Connections in Bordeaux
Leading figures from the global wine community will gather in Bordeaux, France, in June for the seventh and largest ever international symposium staged by the Institute of Masters of Wine.
The Forging Links symposium, taking place from 24 to 27 June at the Cité Mondiale du Vin, will explore the connections between all those involved in wine, from producer through to consumer, and how these can be developed to ensure a successful future for the art, science and business of wine.
This is the first time that the symposium has been held in France and it is being staged with the generous support of the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB), the event‟s principal sponsor. Some 300 delegates are expected to attend the symposium, making it the largest ever held by the Institute.
Forging Links has been organised by a committee of Masters of Wine under the co-chairmanship of Fiona Morrison MW and Jacques Lurton. The Master of Ceremonies during the four-day programme will be Lynne Sherriff MW, Vice Chairman of the Institute.
Dr. Josef „Pepi‟ Schuller MW, Chairman of the Institute, said: “We are delighted with the huge interest that Forging Links has already generated amongst the global wine community and for the generous support of the CIVB, which is enabling us to stage the event in the historic wine capital of Bordeaux.
“The Forging Links symposium provides a unique, independent forum to explore the global connections which contribute to the success of the global wine industry. The programme of speeches, panel discussions, debates and tastings will address all aspects of the industry, from producer through to consumer, and how the wine community can enjoy a successful future through effective collaboration, communication and sharing its vision and goals.”
Alain Vironneau, President of CIVB explained that international connections had always been essential in Bordeaux, making it an ideal location to explore the theme today.
“The reputation of Bordeaux wines is proof of the most successful of collaborations between viticulture and the wine trade. It is the result of what has been, for many centuries now, the always impassioned relationship between Bordeaux wine producers and traders. The main reason for this is that Bordeaux wine has always been made for trade: today this wine is produced to satisfy consumers throughout the world, as it used to be made to satisfy mainly British consumers in the past.
“What we owe to this collaboration between the world of winemakers and the trading world is the creation of the notion of terroir and the classification of wines, in particular the 1855 classification. The joint trade organisation of Bordeaux wines –the CIVB – is the manifestation of what the philosopher Renan called „the will to live together‟ (vouloir vivre ensemble), without which Bordeaux vines would not have maintained their leading position through the centuries,” said Mr Vironneau.
An impressive array of international speakers will take part in Forging Links. Alain Juppé, Mayor of Bordeaux and former Prime Minister of France, will deliver the opening speech of the symposium and Georges Haushalter, Vice-President of CIVB, will give a keynote speech on the theme of Forging Links: Bordeaux reaches out to the world. Sir John Hegarty, Chairman and Worldwide Creative Director of Bartle Bogle Hegarty, will deliver a keynote address on the theme of external perceptions of the wine business.
High-profile speakers, representing all aspects of the international wine industry, include Alessia Antinori, Jean-Claude and Olivier Berrouet, Eduardo Chadwick, Poh Tiong Ch‟ng, Jean-Bernard and Jean-Philippe Delmas, Paul Draper, Peter Gago, Margareth Henriquez, Olivier Humbrecht MW, Jeannie Cho Lee MW, Zelma Long, Egon Müller, Alvaro Palacios, Paul Pontallier, Jancis Robinson MW, Michel Rolland, Christian Seely, Miguel and Mireia Torres, and Moses Tsang.
The programme also includes a series of prestigious lunches and dinners, including a gala dinner at Château Pontet Canet, and provides delegates with the opportunity to participate in the city‟s famous Bordeaux Fête le Vin festival.
For further information on the symposium programme and booking visit the official www.mwsymposium.com website. Registration costs €895 (excluding French TVA) and provides access to all Symposium sessions, tastings, lunches and dinners.
For further information on the Bordeaux region, its wines and historic capital city, which will play host to Forging Links in June, visit the www.bordeaux.com website.
Forging Links is taking place with the generous support of the following sponsors: Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (principal supporter); Bordeaux Tourism Office; Conseil des Crus Classés de Sauternes et Barsac; Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855; the Madame Bollinger Foundation; Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux; Union des Maisons de Bordeaux; Riedel; San Pellegrino; and Greek Wine Federation.
The Institute of Masters of Wine is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting professional excellence and the highest educational standards in the global wine trade. It was founded in 1955 and today its membership comprises 279 Masters of Wine based in 22 countries. More than 240 students from 24 countries are currently studying in the Institute‟s education programme for the Master of Wine qualification which is globally recognised as the highest professional achievement in the wine industry.
Held every four years, the Institute‟s symposium provides an independent forum to address opportunities and challenges facing the wine industry through a programme of keynote speeches, panel discussions, debates, tastings and networking events. The Institute‟s previous symposium in 2006 in Napa, USA, attracted more than 200 delegates from around the world.
More information about the Institute and its activities, including biographies of the Masters of Wine, can be found at the Institute‟s www.mastersofwine.org website.
For media enquiries about The Institute of Masters of Wine and its 2010 Symposium, Forging Links, please contact:
Nathaniel Anderson
Communications Manager
The Institute of Masters of Wine
T: +44 (0)207 621 2830
E: nanderson@mastersofwine.org
For media enquiries about CIVB, please contact:
Laurence Aussedat-Picot
International Media and Public Relations
Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux
T: +33 (0)5 56 00 22 71
E: laurence.aussedat-picot@vins-bordeaux.fr
The Forging Links symposium, taking place from 24 to 27 June at the Cité Mondiale du Vin, will explore the connections between all those involved in wine, from producer through to consumer, and how these can be developed to ensure a successful future for the art, science and business of wine.
This is the first time that the symposium has been held in France and it is being staged with the generous support of the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB), the event‟s principal sponsor. Some 300 delegates are expected to attend the symposium, making it the largest ever held by the Institute.
Forging Links has been organised by a committee of Masters of Wine under the co-chairmanship of Fiona Morrison MW and Jacques Lurton. The Master of Ceremonies during the four-day programme will be Lynne Sherriff MW, Vice Chairman of the Institute.
Dr. Josef „Pepi‟ Schuller MW, Chairman of the Institute, said: “We are delighted with the huge interest that Forging Links has already generated amongst the global wine community and for the generous support of the CIVB, which is enabling us to stage the event in the historic wine capital of Bordeaux.
“The Forging Links symposium provides a unique, independent forum to explore the global connections which contribute to the success of the global wine industry. The programme of speeches, panel discussions, debates and tastings will address all aspects of the industry, from producer through to consumer, and how the wine community can enjoy a successful future through effective collaboration, communication and sharing its vision and goals.”
Alain Vironneau, President of CIVB explained that international connections had always been essential in Bordeaux, making it an ideal location to explore the theme today.
“The reputation of Bordeaux wines is proof of the most successful of collaborations between viticulture and the wine trade. It is the result of what has been, for many centuries now, the always impassioned relationship between Bordeaux wine producers and traders. The main reason for this is that Bordeaux wine has always been made for trade: today this wine is produced to satisfy consumers throughout the world, as it used to be made to satisfy mainly British consumers in the past.
“What we owe to this collaboration between the world of winemakers and the trading world is the creation of the notion of terroir and the classification of wines, in particular the 1855 classification. The joint trade organisation of Bordeaux wines –the CIVB – is the manifestation of what the philosopher Renan called „the will to live together‟ (vouloir vivre ensemble), without which Bordeaux vines would not have maintained their leading position through the centuries,” said Mr Vironneau.
An impressive array of international speakers will take part in Forging Links. Alain Juppé, Mayor of Bordeaux and former Prime Minister of France, will deliver the opening speech of the symposium and Georges Haushalter, Vice-President of CIVB, will give a keynote speech on the theme of Forging Links: Bordeaux reaches out to the world. Sir John Hegarty, Chairman and Worldwide Creative Director of Bartle Bogle Hegarty, will deliver a keynote address on the theme of external perceptions of the wine business.
High-profile speakers, representing all aspects of the international wine industry, include Alessia Antinori, Jean-Claude and Olivier Berrouet, Eduardo Chadwick, Poh Tiong Ch‟ng, Jean-Bernard and Jean-Philippe Delmas, Paul Draper, Peter Gago, Margareth Henriquez, Olivier Humbrecht MW, Jeannie Cho Lee MW, Zelma Long, Egon Müller, Alvaro Palacios, Paul Pontallier, Jancis Robinson MW, Michel Rolland, Christian Seely, Miguel and Mireia Torres, and Moses Tsang.
The programme also includes a series of prestigious lunches and dinners, including a gala dinner at Château Pontet Canet, and provides delegates with the opportunity to participate in the city‟s famous Bordeaux Fête le Vin festival.
For further information on the symposium programme and booking visit the official www.mwsymposium.com website. Registration costs €895 (excluding French TVA) and provides access to all Symposium sessions, tastings, lunches and dinners.
For further information on the Bordeaux region, its wines and historic capital city, which will play host to Forging Links in June, visit the www.bordeaux.com website.
Forging Links is taking place with the generous support of the following sponsors: Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (principal supporter); Bordeaux Tourism Office; Conseil des Crus Classés de Sauternes et Barsac; Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855; the Madame Bollinger Foundation; Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux; Union des Maisons de Bordeaux; Riedel; San Pellegrino; and Greek Wine Federation.
The Institute of Masters of Wine is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting professional excellence and the highest educational standards in the global wine trade. It was founded in 1955 and today its membership comprises 279 Masters of Wine based in 22 countries. More than 240 students from 24 countries are currently studying in the Institute‟s education programme for the Master of Wine qualification which is globally recognised as the highest professional achievement in the wine industry.
Held every four years, the Institute‟s symposium provides an independent forum to address opportunities and challenges facing the wine industry through a programme of keynote speeches, panel discussions, debates, tastings and networking events. The Institute‟s previous symposium in 2006 in Napa, USA, attracted more than 200 delegates from around the world.
More information about the Institute and its activities, including biographies of the Masters of Wine, can be found at the Institute‟s www.mastersofwine.org website.
For media enquiries about The Institute of Masters of Wine and its 2010 Symposium, Forging Links, please contact:
Nathaniel Anderson
Communications Manager
The Institute of Masters of Wine
T: +44 (0)207 621 2830
E: nanderson@mastersofwine.org
For media enquiries about CIVB, please contact:
Laurence Aussedat-Picot
International Media and Public Relations
Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux
T: +33 (0)5 56 00 22 71
E: laurence.aussedat-picot@vins-bordeaux.fr
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