Montesquieu Vins & Domaines

Montesquieu Vins & Domaines, a family business in Bordeaux with Patrick Baseden (MBA 80) as 'gerant': www.montesquieu-bordeaux.com. They offer membership in their VIP club "Les Amis du President" for all Insead Alumni.

Kir-Yianni in Greece

Stellios Boutaris (MBA 94) at Kir-Yianni vineyards in Naoussa in northern Greece, on of the most ambitions new-wave wineries in Greece: http://www.kiryianni.gr/

Perhaps also for 'la petite histoire' (as they say here in France) it can be interesting to know that the Boutari family is an old wine making family in Greece. The Boutaris winery is one of the biggest in Greece. In the 90s the two brothers Yiannis Boutaris and Constantin Boutaris decide to go separate ways. Constantin Boutaris kept the wine production company (called Boutaris) and Yiannis kept the vineyards and created a new, independent winery that he called Kir-Yianni. Kir-Yianni is now run by Yiannis' son Stellios (MBA 94).

PS: If you go there, don't forget to ask Stellios for the directions to the restaurant in the next village. It's very good.

Le Domaine d'Arton

A wine domaine in the Gers, and hour or so from Bordeaux. It is owned by Jean de Montal's (MBA 07J) family. They make a range of wines, both red, white and rose, and both dry and sweet, as well as Armagnac and eaux de vie.

Top Selection (UK)

Top Selection: "an exclusive wine and spirit distribution company, which specialises in products that are at the top of their respective categories" with Ákos Forczek (MBA 97J):
www.topselection.co.uk

Lataste

Benedicte Lataste (MBA 92j) at, well, Lataste SA (www.lataste.fr), a Bordeaux based wine negociant created by her husband Vincent in 1997. The family also owns Chateau de Lardiley in Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux and Chateau Mamin in Graves.

Terravina

Terravina, run by Jaime Araujo (MBA 04J), is a marketing consultancy specifically for wine: www.terravina.fr. Her family also has a winery in Napa in California: Araujo Estate.

Read more about Jaime here: "Portrait de femme : Jaime Arauyo un soupçon de marketing à l’américaine dans le vin français" by JACQUES BERTHOMEAU

"« Mais où allons-nous, oser donner des conseils aux français ! De surcroît sur le vin, exception culturelle française par excellence… Quelle outrecuidance pour une américaine de 37 ans ! » Moi, je trouve ça formidable."

Wine Cruise, June 27

Le Wine Club

Animé par Paul Tracy (MBA 77) et Per Karlson (MBA 90J)
vous propose une

Croisière-dégustation sur la Seine à bord de la Guêpe Buissonnière

le Mercredi 27 Juin 2007 entre 19h30 et 23h30

Venez déguster une étonnante palette de vins de France - Bordeaux, Champagne, Provence, Gaillac et d'Ailleurs - tous proposés en personne par des Vignerons-Alumni d'INSEAD. Venez chercher les meilleurs mariages de ces nobles crus avec des fromages de tous les coins de France et de la charcuterie artisanale d'Espagne, d'Italie, de Corse entre autres.

Rendez-vous sur les quais de Seine en face du Musée d'Orsay entre 19h15 et 19h45. 20h00 précises : Balade sur la Guêpe vers la Bastille et Bercy et ensuite vers la Tour Eiffel tous feux dehors Amarrage à Orsay : 23h30

Inscription prioritaire en ligne

Hine Cognac and Angostura

Hine Cognac (www.hinecognac.com), through Francois Le Grelle (PSD 92).

Chateaux Plus

Chateaux Plus, Arnould Huyghues Despointes ( MBA 75), agent for a number of Bordeaux properties & some others, based in the Médoc.

Wine Club, June 27: Wine Cruise

Cruise on the Seine with the wine club and Insead wines.

Book the date now.

More information to come soon.

Wine Club, Tuesday May 22: The Wines of Burgundy

The Wine Club, directed by Paul Tracy (MBA78J), with the collaboration of Cédric Holtz (MBA 01D) invite you to a presentation and prestigious tasting of the theme

Wines of Burgundy

(Tasting for connoisseur following an introduction for wine-newcomers)By Christian Pillsbury (Partner 07J), Oenologist.

Tuesday, May the 22nd At Cavestève
10 rue de la Cerisaie
75004 Paris

- from 18h30 to 19h30 for the first part for wine-newcomers

- from 19h30 to 21h30 for the prestigious tasting

Part 1: lecture for wine-newcomers

After an introduction "from grape to wine", Christian focuses on the description of the senses about wine. Across 3 different wines, the participants are encouraged to identify their different perceptions. The main objective is to enable the participants to begin building a "database of feelings". As a conclusion, Christian presents some critics and his opinion about how to buy wine.

Part 2: Burgundy and 8 of its wines

Christian begins with an introduction on Burgundy (geology, history, jurisdiction, economy and Burgundy particular agronomic points). Then we shall start the tasting of:

- 4 white wines: Chablis, Meursault, Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet
- 4 red wines: Gevrey-Chambertin, Chambolle-Musigny, Pommard, Charmes-Chambertin.

Each wine will be introduced by Christian. Your participation for commenting each wine is also sought. About Christian Pillsbury (winberis.com) : Christian is a San Francisco native who has been involved in the global wine industry for nearly ten years. He has been at times a sommelier, French wine importer and distributor, retailer, and wine industry commentator. Currently living in France, he has been exploring strategies by which the wine industry can continue to grow into global emerging markets. Christian is passionate about telling the stories behind wines and creating a new generation of wine lovers. He has worked on four continents and holds a BS in Wine Business Strategies from Sonoma State University.

More information and inscription here!

Pichon-Longueville, Suduiraut, Quinta de Romaneira,...

Chateau Pichon Longueville Baron (Pauillac), Chateau Suduiraut (Sauternes), Quinta de Romaneira (Portugal), Château Petit-Village (Pomerol) , Château Pibran (Pauillac), Château Belles Eaux (Languedoc), Disznoko (Tokaj, Hungary), Quinta do Noval (Porto, Portugal)... with Christian Seely, Directeur General of AXA Millesimes

Les Grands Vignes

Les Grands Vignes in Touraine, making a Sauvignon Blanc wine (and perhaps others?), owned by Eric Recchia (MBA 73). (No web site?)

Chateau Pradeaux

Chateau Pradeaux (cf. post below), Bandol, does have a connection to Insead alumni, through Bruno Bizalion (MBA 81) who is a relation to the owner, and who is of course a great spokesman for the domaine (long time since we tasted the wine though).
They seem not to have a website.

Chateauonline update

I just learned that Henri Marie has sold Chateauonline (not a long time they remained owners...) to CL Brands ant that Poupinel (Wharton) has left. Cf. post below.

Domaine de Treille

Domaine de Treille in Gardie (near Limoux, one of the more bizarre French appellations - if you think about the AOC rules they have), owned by Pascal Eyt-Dessus ( MBA 71):
www.domainedetreille.com

Château Touny-les-Roses

Château Touny-les-Roses in Gaillac, with Michel Lavite (AMP 92)

http://www.tounylesroses.fr

Henri Maire

Stephane Zanella (MBA 99), recently appointed CEO of Vins Henri Maire.

http://www.henri-maire.fr/

(Who, by the way, has an ownership interest in Chateauonline that is (or was? - not sure what the situation is today) run by - not an Insead alumni but by a Wharton alumni, Chritophe Poupinel.)

Domaine de Cotes Remont

Domaine de Côtes Rémont in Chenas, Beaujolais, wiht Alain Perrot (MBA 86).

http://site.voila.fr/Cotes_Remont

Brodersen

Brodersen & Co Ltd, consultants specialised in wine and spirits, with Jens Brodersen (MBA 93).

http://www.brodersenco.com/

Casa Lapostolle

Casa Lapostolle winery in Chile, with Cyril Dalamet de Bournet (MBA 82).

http://www.casalapostolle.com/

L'Ecluse Wine Bars

L'Ecluse Wine Bars and Restaurants in Paris, with Dominique Dhyser (AMP 84).

http://www.leclusebaravin.com/

Cave Bernard Massard

Caves Bernard-Massard sparkling and still wine in Luxembourg with Hubert Clasen (MBA 78).

http://www.bernard-massard.com/

Boutari

Boutari Wines in Greece, with Constantin Boutari (MBA 71).

http://www.boutari.gr

Symington

Symington Family Estates, a big group owning e.g. Grahame's, Dow's, Warre's, Smith Woodhouse, Quinta do Vesuvio... with Rupert Symington (MBA 92).

http://www.symington.com/

Chateau la Borie

Chateau la Borie in the Rhone Valley, with Eric Margnat (MBA 80).

http://www.chateaulaborie.fr

Quinta de la Rosa

Quinta de la Rosa in Duoro, the port wine district, with Sophia Bergqvist (no doubt of Swedish decent, judging from the name) (MBA 85).

http://www.quintadelarosa.com/

Chateau Pradeaux

Chateau Pradeaux in Bandol, I was told, also has some alumni link but I don't know how. Do you know?

Domaine Matourne

Domaine Matourne in Provence, with Juergen Spaethe (MBA 66).

http://vinsprovencematourne.monsite.wanadoo.fr/

or

www.matourne.com

Vins Rares

Vins Rares Peter Thustrup, specialist in fine and rare wines, by Peter Thustrup (MBA 80).

http://www.vins-rares.fr/

Update:

Peter sold his business in 2007 to Everget Capital who also owns the Paris wine shop Legrand Filles & Fils and a parallel wine trading and wholesale business.

Domaine de Triennes

Domaine de Triennes,run by Jacques Seysses, Aubert de Villaine and Michel Macaux (none of them alumni) but where - again - Peter Skelton (MBA 73).

http://www.triennes.com/

Chateau Castelnau

Chateau Castelnau in Entre-deux-Mers, owned by Le Vicomte Loïc de Roquefeuille (who's not an alumni), but promoted by Peter Skelton (MBA 73).

Chateau Beaulieu

Robert Schulte (MBA 61) at Chateau de Beaulieu in Cote du Marmandais.

Chateau Goudichaud

Thibaut Mongon (MBA 99) at Chateau Goudichaud in the little known Bordeaux appellation Graves de Vayres.

Millesima, Wine & Co

Financiere Bernard with interestes in or ownership of Domaine du Chevalier (Graves / Pessac-Leognan), Ch de la Solitde, Millesima, Wine & Co. Edmond Masurel (MBA 73) is adviser to the group.

Philipponnat Champagne

Charles Philipponnat (MBA 89) of Champagne Philipponnat in Marueil-sur-Ay.

http://www.champagnephilipponnat.com/

Château Bellevue-Gazin

Added Château Bellevue-Gazin in Blaye, Bordeaux, owned by Alain Lancereau (MBA 85):

http://www.bellevue-gazin.com

Wine Club, Insead Paris

Son objectif ?

Réunir des Alumni, amateurs de vins lors de dégustations ou dîners. Ce club propose également des achats à tarifs préférentiels.

Sous l’impulsion de Paul Tracy de une dégustation des « Vins des Anciens » a été organisée le 29 novembre 2006, rassemblant une quarantaine de participants, au cours de laquelle on a pu gouter les vins de Château de Beaulieu (Robert Schlute (MBA 61)), Les Grandes Vignes, AOV Tourraine (Eric Recchia (MBA 73)), Château de Castelneau (Peter Skelton (MBA 73)), Château Bellevue-Gazin (Alain Lancereau (MBA 85D)) et des vins étrangers (Espagne, Autriche, Nouvelle-Zélande, Afrique du Sud) apportés par Paul Tracy.

Pour 2007, il est envisagé d’organiser environ une manifestation par trimestre (dégustation, dîner, visite de vignoble, croisière sur la Seine…). Si vous êtes intéressés, porteurs d’idées, n’hésitez à contacter Paul Tracy (01 34 50 22 86).

Par ailleurs, nous aimerions identifier tout Ancien ayant un intérêt particulier ou activité dans le domaine du vin, du champagne, des alcools,… pour nourrir des évènements dans l’avenir et informer la communauté des Anciens. Merci de vous faire connaître auprès de Paul Tracy ou auprès de l’Association (01 42 12 09 01)

Domaine de la Courtade

Added Domaine de la Courtade on the Ile de Porquerolle:
http://www.lacourtade.com through family connection with Barbara Colas (MBA 90).