A new institution dedicated to celebrating the wines of Bordeaux has officially launched in Monaco, with the Commanderie de Bordeaux à Monaco opening its inaugural chapter last month following a day of celebration entirely devoted to Bordeaux’s great wines.
The founding day unfolded across three distinct chapters, blending spirituality, professional excellence and the art of fine living. The morning began with a solemn Mass held at the Chapelle de la Miséricorde, celebrated by Monseigneur Dominique-Marie David, Archbishop of Monaco, in the presence of a sizeable delegation from Bordeaux who had travelled for the occasion. The afternoon turned to a professional tasting session bringing together 60 of the region’s most respected sommeliers, who joined Château owners to discover and celebrate some of Bordeaux’s finest wines.
The evening culminated in the induction of the Commanderie de Monaco’s first 12 Commandeurs, followed by a blessing from the Archbishop, before the celebrations moved into a Gala evening held under the honorary presidency of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, who serves as the Commanderie’s Honorary President. Also in attendance were Archbishop Dominique-Marie David, French Ambassador to Monaco Jean d’Haussonville, and Pierre Lurton, Monaco’s Honorary Consul, President of Château d’Yquem and Château Cheval Blanc, and the Commanderie’s Godfather, alongside a wider group of prominent Bordeaux Château owners. A delegation of 14 owners and representatives from prestigious Bordeaux estates travelled for the full day’s events, including the Grand Master of the Grand Conseil du Vin de Bordeaux and his wife, lending the founding occasion a distinctly solemn and singular character, combining elements of sovereignty, spirituality, diplomacy and Bordeaux’s highest winemaking traditions in a single gathering.
The Monaco chapter becomes the 110th Commanderie in existence worldwide, joining a tradition founded more than 74 years ago by Henri Martin under the auspices of the Grand Conseil du Vin de Bordeaux. Its creation brings the global total of Commandeurs to more than 4,300, spread across over 30 countries, with each Commanderie functioning as a local ambassador for Bordeaux’s great Châteaux, helping extend their reputation and influence internationally.
The Monaco Commanderie operates under the honorary presidency of Prince Albert II, with Archbishop Dominique-Marie David serving as its spiritual guide in the role of Grand Chaplain. Raphaël Maillet, a Bordeaux wine advisor and qualified oenologist, holds the position of Master, supported by Martine Ackermann as Régente of the Commanderie and Guilhaume Fossat as Grand Argentier, with the Bureau’s presidency held by Edouard Joulia.
Deliberately selective and built around a strong sense of fraternity, the Commanderie de Bordeaux à Monaco aims to bring together around a hundred members chosen for their achievements, influence and shared vision of fine living, drawing from business leaders, entrepreneurs, figures from the luxury and hospitality world, collectors, and prominent Monégasque and international personalities united by a common passion for both Bordeaux and Monaco.
The Commanderie’s offices are based at the Maison de France, 42 rue Grimaldi, in the heart of the Principality, while its wine collection will be stored under optimal conditions at the Fort de Castillo, a former Maginot Line structure situated 700 metres above sea level.
From its very first year, the Commanderie plans an ambitious programme of activities, including an annual Saint-Vincent celebration at Monaco Cathedral, an annual Chapter gathering, prestigious dinners and masterclasses, trips to Bordeaux, and efforts to build international partnerships, all aimed at showcasing both Monaco and the reputation of Bordeaux’s great wines to enthusiasts and professionals around the world.
Image: Master Raphaël Maillet inducting three Commanders, members of the Conseil de la Commanderie: Édouard Joulia, Martine Ackermann and Guillaume Fossat