Allan Mullins, who has been selecting and blending wine for Woolworths for 22 years, has

been inducted as a Chevalier in the Ordre Des Coteaux De Champagne, a highly prestigious international Champagne society, as of 1 March 2013. We would like to congratulate Allan on this momentous achievement in his career, as his expertise has played an integral role in shaping our wine offering.                                            

Ordre Des Coteaux De Champagne, one of the most notable Champagne fraternities in the world, is driven by celebrating the wines of Champagne and their diversity. Membership of the Ordre is granted exclusively to selected wine experts who have contributed significantly to the commemoration and development of Champagne.

This year marked the first Ordre Des Coteaux De Champagne induction ceremony to be held in Africa. The ceremony is usually held in France, home to the Champagne region, where the Ordre was founded. The ceremony took place in the exquisitely styled Turbine Hall in Newtown, Johannesburg, and hosted approximately 120 guests, including many who are considered “wine royalty” in South Africa.

Trumpets sounded to kick off the night’s proceedings and guests were addressed by The Chief Commandier, Michael Drappier. Each inductee was then called up and given a detailed citation of their career achievements, particularly relating to the world of Champagne.

Along with the other newly inducted members, Allan took a pledge to hold true to his love for champagne and drink it on every possible occasion. This, according to Allan, was an easy pledge to take. To add to this great honour, Allan is now the second South African Chevalier to date.

Allan attests that his career at Woolworths, and his subsequent involvement with the international wine world, has been incredibly influencial in reaching this pinacle moment in his career. Allan has a long string of achievements behind him, including the development of his own range of iconic wine blends, and we treasure his contribution as the Ambassador for Woolworths wines. We wish Allan continued success in sharing his extraordinary talents at Woolworths and are extremely proud of what he has accomplished.