UK contingent ‘lets rip’ at de Sours

The cream of the international wine and arts worlds caroused till dawn – and beyond – at a party at Bordeaux’s Chateau de Sours last weekend.

To celebrate the completion of two years’ of extensive renovations at the Entre-deux-Mers chateau and the launch of his sparkling rosé wine, owner Martin Krajewski treated 350 guests to a glittering black tie party.

The last revellers were eventually persuaded to leave at about 7.30am, after an evening that had been managed to precision, from cocktails and sushi in the courtyard, to an 18-minute firework display after dinner, followed by an opera rendition.

The renovated chateau includes an art gallery displaying works including ‘Contrasts in Red, Black and White’ by Sir Terry Frost (previously exhibited at Tate St Ives, Tate Britain and The Royal Academy), together with a number of celebrated pieces by John Hoyland and Albert Irvin.

Both Hoyland and Irvin were at the party, along with Rene Gimpel, third generation owner of the Gimpel Fils Gallery in London’s Mayfair.

Krajewski plans week-long courses in British Modern Abstract Art for the ‘serious amateur’ at the chateau, for which a stable of eminent artists – including Hoyland, Philip King and Craigie Aitchison – is being recruited to teach.

Other partygoers included Steven Spurrier, Alain Raynaud, president of the Circle Rive Droite and owner of Chateau Quinalt in St Emilion, Olivier Bernard of Domaine de Chevalier, Christian Doriac of St Emilion’s Chateau Destieux (celebrating his property’s promotion to Grand Cru Classé status), Nathalie Schyler of Chateau Kirwan, and Grant Bellve of Tyrrells Wines in Australia.

UK wine merchants included Johnny Goedhuis of Goedhuis & Co, Terry Pennington of Gilbey’s Ireland, James Radcliffe of Laytons Wine Merchants, Chris Hardy of Majestic Wine, Dan Jago, head buyer at Tesco, and Allan Cheesman, former Sainsbury’s wine chief.

As to whether the party was a success, the words of Olivier Bernard might best sum up the feelings of a sometimes mystified native contingency as they watched their British colleagues letting rip.

‘Pas mal pour les Anglais,’ he said.

Written by Jane Anson