Franck Boudot
FRANCK BOUDOT , BURDIGALA WINE BISTROT’S BOSS
A unique path and still a passion for Bordeaux wines: Meet with Franck Boudot, who flies the colors of the Bordeaux vineyards through his wine bars based in Shanghaï !
FRANK BOUDOT OPENS THE EAST TO BORDEAUX WINES
AN ELEGANT PASSION
Franck Boudot fell for the charms of the Saint-Emilion Wines when he visited the Tupina and met Chef Xiradakis. A touching experience: “Thanks to him, not only did I discover the gems of those appellations but also an extraordinary medieval village.” And a passion that never left him afterwards. Full of elegance, the Saint-Emilion wines bring out strong references to Franck Boudot: “If they were an actress, they would be Carole Bouquet as she loves wines and all its qualities that resonate purity, beauty and talent”, who wanted to make that vineyard’s pleasures affordable to the Chinese consumers.
COMMITMENT AND TRUST, THE KEYS TO SUCCESS
Franck Boudot knew China well at the start of the project: “I had been there for 9 years for catering projects”, and started a partnership with the CIVB to launch the Burdigala Wine Bistrot, to make Bordeaux wines affordable to the masses. He was able to adapt to the changing clientele: “today the market is putting up some resistance, it has become a hedonistic market that wants to consume Bordeaux wine as it is synonymous to elegance.” The French entrepreneur has established a strong link with customers who were not always familiar with Bordeaux wines. “Some have followed me for 2 years and come to me in full trust to buy wine. Indeed, I select and import wines myself.” The suppression of the intermediaries moderates the prices.
A MARKET STILL IN EVOLUTION
With his project, Franck Boudot aims at a curious audience, “often young, 30 years old on average, “white collars”, opinion leaders”. The success of the first bar led to the creation of a second bar, located in another Shanghai district, but “with a 100% identical offer, be it with the wines or the food”. Because indeed, it was not the case a few years back but the Chinese now enjoy drinking wine with their meal. “It’s also a way of saying we are good hosts, and moreover, wine is now served during official meals”. The evolution of consumption but also the size of the city has allowed Franck Boudot to launch a third Burdigala, Bordeaux wines off to conquer China: a good start!