Three Feathers Wines travel to the US Ambassador’s Residence in Paris, France for a European Wine Tasting Event
Article & Photos by Elise Prudhomme
Three Feathers Wines traveled to France in May 2022 for a European Wine Tasting Event. The California Wine Institute invited the Oregon Wine Board to participate in a gala presentation at the US Ambassador’s Residence in Paris.
It is difficult to imagine what lies behind this austere Parisian facade on Rue Saint Honoré, right next door to the French and British Embassies. We got our first glimpse inside when we delivered several cases of Three Feathers wine for the tasting. I simply handed the cases of wine to the guard at the entrance.
Inside the US Ambassador’s Residence
Our arrival at the US Ambassador’s Residence on Rue Saint Honoré at 10 am on the morning of the tasting event presented quite a different atmosphere. Various VIPs lined up for clearance to enter the Ambassador’s residence and we were asked to wait.
Numerous security guards ran scanners, ID checks and baggage checks and laptops were refused. (Happily, I had asked permission to take photographs ahead of time so they did not confiscate my camera!) Access was given to a VIP on a bicycle and various unmarked cars who made their entrance to the park in the inner courtyard. Only then were we allowed to enter the courtyard.
Setting up Three Feathers Wines and meeting Oregon exhibitors
François and I set up our tasting space alongside David Adelsheim and Eugenia Keegan (Jackson Family Wines). Howard Rossbach (Citation Wines) shared our table, 00Wines was on our right and across from us were Frédéric Drouhin (Domaine Drouhin) and Jean-Nicolas Méo (Nicolas-Jay), to name a few.
The Oregon exhibitors enjoyed a cozy room on the ground floor of the Ambassador’s residence overlooking a generous stone terrace and extensive lawn. We strolled around the flower gardens and learned that the gardeners are in charge of supplying roses and other flowers to decorate the residence.
The Tasters
The 400 confirmed attendees arrived – mostly French, but also from neighboring European countries such as Belgium, Italy, Switzerland. Many of the visitors were curious about Oregon wine. As a result, our little room was full to the brim in a predictably “un-socially distanced” manner until the event ended at 6 pm.
Tasters from the French Alsace region enjoyed our 2020 Pinot Madeleine. One man said ‘it tasted just like home’. A discussion erupted in French over whether the 2018 Cuvée was preferable to the 2019 single-clone Oregon Pinot Noir and our 2020 Pinot Gris was a big hit. Surprised and elated guests appreciated our lighter burgundy style wines because they are pleasantly acidic, fruit-forward and not overwhelming in alcohol.
The US Ambassador to France, Denise Campbell Bauer, made a lovely speech to inaugurate the tasting event. By the end of the day, clean glasses had dwindled down to nothing and journalists, restaurant & wine merchants, sommeliers and critics took their leave.
A Truly Beautiful Venue
It was gratifying to showcase Three Feathers wines in such a beautiful and illustrious setting. Heading for home, we looked back at the carved stone and imposing portico of the US Ambassador’s Residence. Who would have thought that our wines would cross the threshold?
