We are pleased to inform our trade contacts that our "HUGEL" stand at Vinexpo in Bordeaux from 21-25 June 2009 will be located in Hall 1 D 245, near door 24.

Etienne Hugel and David Ling will be in attendance together with their colleagues Mathieu Chalas, Lionel Rousseaux and Didier Thaler for the entire duration of the fair. For the first time, two young Hugels from the 13th generation, Jean Frédéric and his cousin Marc André (both born in 1989, year of the 350th anniversary) will be present on our stand.

The Orient will again have a special place on our stand this year with visuals that are an invitation to bring our visitors on a journey to Asia. At a daily lunchtime buffet (by invitation) we will again present our chopstick holder, various new original ideas, and the latest design of DIAM corks.

Again this year, our location will be near close to many friendly colleagues, including Pol Roger, Perrin and Symington of Primum Familiae Vini.

You can download here the full map of Vinexpo's Hall 1. For more details on Vinexpo, visit their website.

Vinexpo is certainly the most important of its kind and is for members of the trade only.

The story is just too nice not to be told...

It all starts in late 2006 when former Auberge de l'Ill employee, Franco-Vietnamese Eric Simard contacts us from Vietnam asking if we were interested to start establishing distribution in his distant Indochina market. Eric now head of Victoria hotels obviously knows the various importers and recommends Franco-Vietnamese Dong Khoi of leading importer Tan Khoa.

No later than two months later, our wines were launched in Vietnam with both of our friend involved. The above center picture was taken in January 2007 with Eric on his yellow Lambretta whose colour is exactly that of our labels... In Vietnam most transports happen on two wheels, including sometimes deliveries as on above right photo with Tan Khoa's boss taken in January 2008 on second market visit. My reaction: Eric, it would be so nice if you, our Hugel ambassador had our logo added to your yellow Lambretta.

And here we go, above left is Eric Simard's Lambretta in his new livery whose photo was just sent by our "Vienamese ambassador". Needless to say that Hugel wines are to be found at Victoria hotels.

This World of wines is really a very special one, where friendship blends so nicely into our lives and memories. CHEERS and THANKS !