The ninth Mentzendorff Charity Cycle Ride, a cycling challenge organised by the UK-based importer of fine French wines Mentzendorff, is set to begin on 1 June from the M. Chapoutier winery. The first 150-km stage runs through the heart of the Rhone Valley, between Tain l’Hermitage and Malaucène (Vaucluse). The three-week race covering a total 460 kilometres with stages through Mont Ventoux, Tarascon, Sète and Collioure aims to raise vital funds to support retired professionals from the wine industry in the UK who fall into hardship, via the charity The Benevolent. The 2015 ride will raise £30,000 for the association.
Michel Chapoutier said: « We are delighted to have supported this cycling challenge raising money for The Benevolent for many years now. The wine industry is first and foremost all about its men and women and so we thought it was important to do that little bit extra.»
The fifteen participants in the ride are all from the wine trade and include Stuart Gillies (Managing Director of the Gordon Ramsay Group); Patrick Schmitt (Editor-in-chief at The Drinks Business); Andrew Reed (owner of William Reed Business Media – International Wine Challenge, Harpers, OLN, The Grocer and others); Simon Test (owner of The Champagne Company); Ian Harris (Chief Executive of The Wine and Spirit Education Trust), and Chris Matthews (Berry Bros).
