Liverpool accepted into prestigious global Bordeaux wine network

The Commanderie de Bordeaux à Liverpool received its Charter from Le Grand Conseil de Vins de Bordeaux last week.

The Commanderie de Bordeaux dates back to 1952 and is a global network of wine enthusiasts and professionals dedicated to promoting and educating people about the wines of the Bordeaux region, acting as ‘embassies’ for Bordeaux wine around the world.

Manchester received its Charter in March 1988, and today there are 103 embassies around the world.

The Liverpool presentation was held at The Art School restaurant, with food curated by Paul Askew, the restaurant’s chef patron.

Paul Askew and Liverpool BID Company CEO, Bill Addy, have worked to raise the city region’s gastronomic standards over the past 20 years, helping to introduce Bordeaux’s wines to Liverpool.

Paul was patron of the Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux Festival which launched in 2022, and Liverpool was the guest city at the Bordeaux Fete du Vin in 2024.

L-R: John Barnes, Sammy Lee, Alfie Boe, Peter Reid

Special guests at last week’s presentation 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. Also present were former Everton footballer, Peter Reid, former Liverpool players, John Barnes and Sammy Lee, and opera singer, Alfie Boe.

They sampled a selection of more than 50 reds, whites, rose and sparkling vintages from Chateau Brondelle, Chateau Faugas and Chateau du Pavillion and many more, showcasing vineyards from across Bordeaux.

Paul Askew was bestowed as the Maitre De La Commanderie de Bordeaux à Liverpool and Bill Addy as the Vice-Maitre De La Commanderie de Bordeaux à Liverpool.

The Commanderie de Bordeaux à Liverpool heralds a new strategic direction and importance for the culinary and cultural development in 2025 and beyond for the Liverpool City Region. This includes Liverpool’s festival activity, now led by the private sector, including the return of Taste Liverpool. Drink Bordeaux in 2026 and other events in development, focused on food and drink.

Paul Askew said: “I’m thrilled from 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 glories, with a range of vintages from affordable to 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.”

Paul Askew, left, Allan Sichel

He added: “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 we champion everything about Bordeaux wines, including planning future festivals and events.”

Bill Addy 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.”

Jean Marc Dulong, head of La Commanderie de Bordeaux, said: “We’re so happy to visit Liverpool to celebrate this new Commanderie. Our heartfelt thanks go out to Bill and Paul as we came together in this lovely restaurant with fantastic food and service and to drink beautiful wines from Bordeaux.

“We feel there’s a spirit and energy to make Bordeaux wines more well known from Bill and Paul.”

He added: “The commanderies started in 1952 to help develop awareness for Bordeaux wines around the world and today we have 103 commanderies and over 4,300 members. Here in Liverpool we will rely very much on Paul and Bill and their relationships in the Liverpool City Region to showcase Bordeaux wines as widely as possible.”