Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter
LEFT: Managing Director for J. Wray and Nephew Group Limited, Billy McConnell (left) toasts with President of Moet Hennessy Latin America and Caribbean, Davide Markovitch (centre), and Moet Hennessy Marketing Manager for the Caribbean, Pascal Bony, at a Veuve Clicquot cocktail party held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel to mark the consolidation of Moet Hennessy spirits under the J. Wray and Nephew portfolio, last weekend. RIGHT: Guests Karen Neita (left) and Gregory Thomas share a moment with J. Wray and Nephew's Sharon Sterling.
- PHOTOS BY CLAUDINE HOUSEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTERN BUREAU:
WHAT COULD easily be called a consolidation of two great houses, the cocktail reception to celebrate the emergence of J. Wray and Nephew Limited as sole Jamaican distributor of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne was carried off with exactly the same kind of finesse and sophistication that has made both labels famous.
Dubbed, 'A Champagne Evening with Veuve Clicquot', the spectacular gold and black event started shortly after 7:00 p.m. with guests being greeted with warm smiles and a cold glass of bubbly (Veuve Clicquot Yellow label) on entering the Ritz-Carlton ballroom.
Designer Francis Mais did a fantastic job on the interior décor for the evening. She successfully merged the golden pineapple brocade on the Ritz-Carlton Ballroom's walls with the signature gold and black of Veuve Clicquot to create an enchanting tropical paradise - she even added bubbles to boot!
It was simple yet elegant, everything was coordinated with just the right amount of taste to accentuate the beauty of Veuve Clicquot's signature champagne: the napkins were gold, the servers were smartly dressed in gold - even the legs of the tables were adorned in gold décor that the legendary King Midas would envy.
VIOLINIST
To further heighten the mood, guests were treated to the soulful strains of expert violinist, Mark Stephenson, who walked the entire room, his music caressing the ears of patrons as they sipped samples of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label, Veuve Clicquot Vintage Reserve and the queen of the line Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame.
In the island for the celebration, president of Moet Hennessy spirits line, Davide Markovitch and marketing manager for the Caribbean, Pascal Bony, both expressed their confidence in the future success of Veuve Clicquot under the J. Wray and Nephew portfolio.
"In Jamaica it is just the beginning for the champagne," Pascal said. "(However,) there is a great potential for it in Jamaica. We are confident that this is just the beginning of a long success for our brand. We would not have organised such an event if we did not believe that Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin would do very well."
Like a bottle of wine that is good to the very last drop, J. Wray and Nephew's 'A Champagne Evening with Veuve Clicquot' excited the palate and left one wishing for more.
