Bouchard Finlayson takes top prize at prestigious wine fair in Dijon, France

Friday, 22 November, 2013
Bouchard Finlayson
Bouchard Finlayson’s Galpin Peak Pinot noir 2011 has won the ‘Coup de Coeur’ award, the highest accolade, at the inaugural ‘Salon Vinidivio’ in Dijon, France. The lauded vintage was also awarded the Gold medal, with the Bouchard Finlayson Blanc de Mer 2012 and Tête de Cuvée Galpin Peak Pinot noir 2010 each taking home Silver.
Vinidivio was part of the 83rd International & Gastronomy Fair at the Palais des Congrès in Dijon, taking place from 31 October – 11 November 2013. The annual fair in Burgundy attracts over 200,000 visitors and 600 exhibitors, making it one of the top ranking gastronomy fairs in France. Each year a foreign country is invited as host country; this year, for the first time, the fair narrowed its focus by including the wine-growing regions of South Africa as the guest of honour of the Fair.

The aim of introducing Vinidivio (31 October – 4 November) for the first time was to  showcase not only the gastronomic and tourism delights of the host country during the fair but to also move the focus to its wine offering. In total 25 South African wineries were represented under the patronage of guest of honour and co-organiser Michael Fridjhon, giving French exhibition visitors the chance to discover the value and quality of wine products from South Africa.

One of the highlights of Vinidivio was the ‘La Paulée de Dijon’ event on Sunday 3 November, held in the ‘Cellier de Clairvaux’, a historical cellar in Dijon. For this wine connoisseurs’ networking opportunity producers from different vineyards in Burgundy presented two or more of their bestselling vintages. Bouchard Finlayson Global Ambassador Lia Poveda, who is originally from France, attended the event and was able to share the Bouchard Finlayson Kaaimansgat Chardonnay 2012 and Galpin Peak Pinot noir 2011 with a table of 10 top French wine producers to much acclaim.

The day culminated in the presentation of the awards. A panel of judges made up of renowned French sommeliers, winemakers and journalists and led by France’s top Sommelier Eric Goettelmann (Head Sommelier and wine buyer for the three Michelin-starred restaurant Bernard Loiseau) blind tasted wines from 25 South African wineries.

Feedback at the fair for the Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak Pinot noir 2011 has been overwhelmingly positive, resulting in the vintage taking top honours on the night.

Bouchard Finlayson Global Ambassador Lia Poveda is delighted with the trip: ‘Representing Bouchard Finlayson in my own country, in Burgundy where I spent two years during my wine studies and fell in love with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, was an absolute honour. The masters and producers of my beloved grapes have recognised the quality and the passion put into Bouchard Finlayson wines, which to me is a superb accolade in a region where some of the most famous wines in the world are produced.’

WineLand