THE UNITED BANKS OF WINE:

BORDEAUX WINEMAKERS COMBINE FORCES TO FORM NEW LE GRAND CERCLE DES VINS DE BORDEAUX

More Than 30 Chateaux from Both Left and Right Banks of Bordeaux to Debut the 2013 “En Primeur” Vintages, Along with 2011 and 2010 Varietals for the First Time in Miami April 10, 2014

Trade Tastings and Consumer Celebration at InterContinental Hotel

Miami, FL, March 2014: Some of the biggest news to stem from the winemakers of France this past year was the announcement that the famed Le Cercle Rive Droite, representing the premier merlot based winemakers of the Right bank and Le Cercle Rive Gauche, the paralleled organization representing the top Cabernet based winemakers of the Left Bank, have united under one cause aptly titled The Grand Cercle des Vins de Bordeaux. There's  power in numbers and power they have as only the winemakers deemed most excellent are invited to join the ranks of this elite organization. Now with almost 200 chateaux under this umbrella, the mission has been set to enlighten wine drinkers from connoisseur to novice across the globe about the superb, top-of-the-range, reasonably priced wines teeming from this famous French wine region.  On Thursday April 10^th, for the first time in Miami, 30+ winemakers from The Grand Cercle will treat South Floridians to an exclusive unveiling of their most prized possessions, ranging from the 2013 “en primeur” vintage (“wine futures”) to the most widely celebrated 2011 and 2010 varietals.

Weather, being a prominent factor in all winemaking, has taken a specific toll on the 2013 harvest across all of France, with frigid temperatures and freezing rain throughout the growing season.  Furthermore in July one of the worst storms in Medoc since 1999 came barreling through the Left Bank followed by record-breaking hail.  But while Bordeaux has harvested fewer grapes as a result, this makes previewing this limited vintage an even more impressive and exclusive coup.

For members of the trade and press, the winemakers will proudly show off the fruits of their labor at the InterContinental Hotel (100 Chopin Plaza) from 1pm – 5pm. For consumers looking to sample some of the best French Cabernet and Merlot vintages from the past few years and perhaps show off their wine prowess amongst their peers, an exclusive tasting will be held at the InterContinental Hotel (100 Chopin Plaza) from 6pm – 8pm for $55 per person or two tickets for $90.  The ticket not only enables wine lovers to mix and mingle with some of the most widely respected winemakers in today’s industry but each ticket holder will also be treated to cheese tastings and hors d’ oeuvres expertly prepared and paired by the InterContinental’s chefs.

The consumer tasting includes also a generous Silent Auction, featuring rare to find Magnums of prestigious Bordeaux wines, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit Best Buddies International to create opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities - http://www.bestbuddies.org/. 

Dr. Alain Raynaud, president of The Grand Cercle, founder of Le Cercle Rive Droite in 2002 and once dubbed “Bordeaux Maverick” by Decanter Magazine, champions the shared commitment each member of the organization abides by. “The Grand Cercle wines are united by a code of practice with obligations ranging from the meticulous care of the grapes during harvest, to the protection of the vineyards and dedication to a minimal carbon footprint and to a continued quest for innovation.” A former general practitioner, Dr. Raynaud, owner of Château du Parc, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru since 2011, has been leaving a grape stained mark on the Bordeaux industry since the 1990’s. 

Media interviews will be available on site upon request.

On April 10^th trade and media will have the chance to be their own critic and sample dozens of “en primeur” vintages stemming from both the right and left banks of Bordeaux. The practice of “en primeur” is a trusted method utilized in the wine industry, particularly a popular practice amongst Bordeaux winemakers wherein critics and consumers are able to both taste and purchase the young vintage while the wine is still in the barrel.  Typically “en primeur” wines are unveiled while still only 6 - 8 months in age and can act as a predictor for critics to assemble projections for how successful the harvest was and develop proper tasting notes for each wine.  Purchasing “en primeur” vintages can even have a financial advantage for the consumer as the wines have not fully matured and factors including aging, climate control, blending of grapes, etc. have not been taken into account.

2014 PARTICIPATING WINERIES

To register for the trade and press portion visit http://grandcerclemiami2014.eventbrite.com .

To purchase tickets for the consumer tasting visit https://bordeauxinmiami.eventbrite.com.

Tickets are on sale now!

To schedule a media interview with Dr. Alain Raynaud or for more information or press inquiries, please contact I.E.E.M. at 305-937-2488