The Commanderie de Bordeaux à Liverpool received its Charter from Le Grand Conseil de Vins de Bordeaux this month
On Thursday 20 March, the Commanderie de Bordeaux à Liverpool received its Charter from Le Grand Conseil de Vins de Bordeaux, giving the city of Liverpool the opportunity to spread the word about the wines of Bordeaux.
Dinners, wine tastings and visits to Bordeaux will take place each year, celebrating the region’s wines alongside this new relationship between Bordeaux and Liverpool City Region.
The grand event was held at Liverpool’s renowned fine dining restaurant The Art School, helmed by Chef Patron Paul Askew, where guests from across the region and The Commanderie de Bordeaux enjoyed wine tasting alongside a menu curated by the chef.
Special guests included the Head of La Commanderie de Bordeaux, Jean Marc Dulong, and President of the CIVB, Allan Sichel, as well as wine growers and sellers from across Bordeaux.
The evening kicked off in The Art School Cellars where an array of vintages were available to sample, making up an impressive collection of over 50 reds, whites, rose and sparkling vintages from Chateau Brondelle, Chateau Faugas and Chateau du Pavillion to name but a few.
As part of the ceremony, The Art School’s Chef Patron Paul Askew was bestowed as the Maitre De La Commanderie de Bordeaux à Liverpool whilst Chief Executive Officer of Liverpool BID Company Bill Addy received the title of Vice-Maitre De La Commanderie de Bordeaux à Liverpool.
Luminaries from sports and art in the city region were also present including Sammy Lee, John Barnes, Peter Reid and Katherine Caldwell who, along with The Art School’s Operations Director Harry Askew, were all made members of The Commanderie de à Liverpool, followed by an exquisite fine-dining experience which included a heart-stirring rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone by Alfie Boe.
Liverpool’s Commanderie is the fruition of a long-standing relationship which has seen Paul and Bill the key catalysts for raising the city region’s gastronomic standards over the last 20 years and helping to introduce Bordeaux’s wines to Liverpool.
Paul, Bill and the rest of Commanderie de Bordeaux à Liverpool will strive to continue raising the bar of Liverpool’s culinary and cultural development into 2025 and beyond, reinstating Taste Liverpool festival as well as bringing Drink Bordeaux to the region in 2026.
Paul Askew said: “I’m thrilled to be welcoming our guests to The Art School to begin a wonderful new chapter with Liverpool, the latest Commanderie for Bordeaux. We’ve worked together for many years in the restaurant and the wider city region to celebrate Bordeaux’s wines in all their glory, with a range of vintages from affordable to those for a special occasion,
“We’ve embarked on visits to the city and the region in France and we’ve welcomed our Bordeaux friends to Liverpool as part of a very special relationship which has blossomed over the years. It’s a huge honour to become the Maitre De La Commanderie de Bordeaux à Liverpool and working with my good friend Bill Addy, the Commanderie de Bordeaux and the CIVB, will champion everything about Bordeaux wines, including planning future festivals and events. On top of my new role as the President of Disciples Escoffier UK it’s certainly been a fantastic month with lots of new work to embrace.”
Bill Addy, Chief Executive Officer of Liverpool BID Company, said: “The strong links between Liverpool City Region and Bordeaux have a history stretching back over many centuries. In recent years those links have developed into a friendship which has been mutually beneficial, an alignment between arguably the world’s greatest wine region and the UK’s finest food and drink destination. The new Commanderie de Bordeaux here in Liverpool establishes a formal link cementing the bond and recognises the work of so many across the city to develop our culinary reputation.”
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