Guy Boursot
After 17 years at Berry Bros & Rudd — London's oldest wine merchant — buying and selling some of the world's finest wines, Guy left to rekindle his family's historic wine business. He opened Boursot's Wine Collection in 2006, in a 250-year-old listed building in the pretty town of Ardres, 15 minutes south of Calais.
A member of the Worshipful Company of Vintners and the Circle of Wine Writers, Guy has given well over 1,000 talks on wine and appeared on both radio and television. His style is informative but entertaining — whether hosting a gourmet dinner in Boulogne or presenting at the Ideal Home Exhibition in London.
"To hear Guy talk on Champagne or Burgundy is to truly appreciate the knowledge and pleasure derived from centuries of winemaking."
Wine agency review
The Boursot Heritage
In the 16th century, a Boursot living in Dijon owned vineyards at Chambolle-Musigny in the Côte de Nuits. The family has been in wine ever since.
In 1792, Claude Boursot enlisted in the Artillery Regiment at Auxonne, where he became a close friend of one young Napoléon Bonaparte. They fought side by side through the Italian campaigns and the French Revolution. After the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, Napoléon appointed Claude as Keeper of the Archives of the Most Historic Town of Calais.
Adolphe Boursot later moved to London and established A. Boursot & Co in the City, introducing Perrier-Jouët champagne to the United Kingdom. The Boursot family handled Perrier-Jouët for 130 years, selling 75% of their annual million-bottle production.
Two Firsts
Around 1868, the Boursot/Perrier-Jouët partnership made the experiment of shipping dry champagne to London — starting a fashion the whole world has since adopted. Adolphe also suggested putting a label on the bottle; until then, the brand had appeared only on the cork.
Wine Writer & Presenter
With over 30 years in the trade, Guy writes for magazines and websites and is available for corporate events, group tastings, and private talks. His most requested topics include Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne.
"You gave one of the very best presentations I have ever heard. You enraptured everyone with your passion, knowledge and easy style — you even managed to hold the interest of those who do not drink wine!"
RB, October 2011
"Thank you for last night — you turned the evening into a really great occasion. You have been described as impressive, charming, cool, very knowledgeable and the perfect presenter."
CW, October 2015
