Czech Embassy, Bernard-Massard Host Diplomatic Grape Harvest

On Friday 16 September 2022, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Luxembourg organised, together with Bernard-Massard, an informal Heads of Missions (HOMS) meeting in the form of a wine grape harvest.

This informal HOMS meeting took place in the framework of the Czech Republic’s presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), which runs from 1 July to 31 December 2022.

More than 20 diplomats and other dignitaries took part in this event, with some joining after the harvest. Among those present were several resident ambassadors (and other diplomats) but also some who are accredited to Luxembourg but based in Brussels as well as those representing EU candidate countries, such as Ukraine. Fernand Etgen, President of the Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg’s parliament), and Anne Calteux, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Luxembourg, as well as representatives of Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, were also present.

Participants arrived at Caves Bernard-Massard in Grevenmacher on Friday morning for breakfast and coffee before changing into their rubber boots for the harvest. The diplomatic team-building activity itself took place in the Bernard-Massard vineyard in Wormeldange, with participants picking Pinot Noir grapes.

Speaking ahead of the harvest, the Czech Ambassador to Luxembourg, Vladimír Bärtl, explained that he and his team had wanted to organise a typical Luxembourgish activity for this informal HOMS meeting. He thanked Antoine Clasen, Managing Director of Bernard-Massard (who later explained the grape harvesting process to participants), for his support in facilitating this event. Ambassador Bärtl added that this was an opportunity to “meet EU and non-EU friends, resident and non-resident” ambassadors and to “show that there is some unity”. He compared the harvesting activity to the motto of the Czech presidency of the Council of the EU, “Europe as a task”, noting that this too was a task - although it was one that participants appeared to have enjoyed. Antoine Clasen praised the Czech Ambassador’s enthusiasm for the organisation of this event and said that Bernard-Massard was pleased to be a part of it. He stressed: “Diplomacy is now more important than ever”. The event also served to show just how much time and effort goes into the grape harvest, which generally lasts several weeks.

The harvest was followed by a hard-earned aperitif and lunch back at Caves Bernard-Massard.