French handball star becomes ambassador of Saint-Emilion wines
Valentin Porte embodies the excellence of French handball and continues to shine through his talent and leadership on the field. Also a great lover of Saint-Emilion wines, Valentin Porte has been inducted as a Vigneron d’Honneur and Bourgeois de Saint-Emilion on June, 18th 2023.
Inducted by the Jurade of Saint-Emilion in the Monolithic Church
New ambassadors of Saint-Emilion wines were inducted at the 2023 Spring Festival, and Valentin Porte was one of the guests of honour.
Arriving in Saint-Emilion in the afternoon, the French handball player put on his red cape, as did the other inductees, and paraded through the streets of the medieval town led by the brass band and the Jurade of Saint-Émilion to the monolithic church. Inside this church carved out of the rock, the largest of Europe, the Jurats carried out the 25 inductions during which Valentin Porte was given his diploma as Winegrower of Honour and Burgher of Saint-Émilion (Vigneron d’Honneur and Bourgeois de Saint-Emilion)
Other personalities inducted include :
- David DEGOUY, assistant coach at Montpellier Handball Club (MHB).
- Lijuan LI, head of the Asian market at Vineyards Bordeaux, who also won The Voice of China in 2013.
- Rodolphe LAMEYSE, CEO of Vinexpo.
- Pascal FAUGERE, CEO of the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
From now on, they will all proudly carry the values of the Jurade and their mission will be to promote the Saint-Emilion wines throughout the world.
The Spring Festival: an important event of the Saint-Emilion calendar
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a cocktail reception in the gardens of the town hall before moving on to the prestigious Salle des Dominicains for the dinner. The theme of the meal was the four seasons, highlighting each stage of the year in the development of the grape, while underlining the growing environmental values of Saint-Emilion’s winegrowers. The dinner was accompanied by magical entertainment and lively music, including an aerial dancer and a show of birds of prey.
The Spring Festival is one of the Jurade de Saint-Emilion’s two major annual events, the other being the Ban des Vendanges (the Harvest Proclamation) in September. These two celebrations mark important moments in the region’s wine-growing calendar and bear witness to the pride and passion of the wine-growers for their terroir and their wines. They bring together the local community, and in particular the members of the Jurade, in a festive and convivial atmosphere.
Une carrière remarquable
French international handballer Valentin Porte is recognised as one of the best in his position. Playing as a winger or right-back, he has made a name for himself thanks to his determination and exceptional talent.
His impressive career began in childhood, when he tried his hand at a variety of sports before finding his passion in handball. His commitment and remarkable performances earned him a place in the French national team, with whom he has won numerous titles, including the European Championship, the World Championship and the Olympic Games.
Away from the pitch, Valentin Porte is involved in charity work as a mentor for a number of associations, while at the same time nurturing a passion for travelling and discovering the wines of different wine-growing regions.