Wine, Culture, and Diplomacy: Ambassador Leroy Leads Beaujolais Nouveau In Kampala

KAMPALA, 27 November 2025 — The French community in Uganda, together with hundreds of invited guests, have gathered at Kingdom Kampala on Thursday evening for the annual Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration, a vibrant cultural and business event hosted under the auspices of the Embassy of France and organised by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Uganda (FCCU).

Presiding over the ceremony, H.E. Virginie Leroy, Ambassador of France to Uganda, welcomed the more than 800 guests in attendance, describing the Beaujolais Nouveau tradition as “joyful, universal, and deeply rooted in French cultural identity.”

The Ambassador noted that Beaujolais Nouveau — a fresh, fruity wine released every November — is far more than a drink. “It represents the spirit of conviviality, the pride of our winemakers, and the celebration of a new harvest,” she said. Originating in the 1950s, the tradition has grown from a local celebration in France’s Beaujolais region to a global event enjoyed from “Tokyo to New York, Paris to Kampala.”

A Celebration of Culture and Economic Cooperation

Ambassador Leroy praised the FCCU for its instrumental role in strengthening the economic relationship between France and Uganda. With French companies ranked as Uganda’s largest private investors, she highlighted the “dynamic and growing interest from businesses on both sides,” reaffirming the Embassy’s commitment to expanding partnerships and economic collaboration into 2026 and beyond.

“This event reflects not only the strength of the French-Ugandan business community, but also the trust, curiosity, and ambition that unite us,” she said, adding that the connections forged during the celebration would lead to “new projects, new collaborations, and new success stories.”

Showcasing French Gastronomy in Kampala

This year’s celebration received a special boost from the presence of Master Cheesemaker Grégory Giraudon — a celebrated French cheesemonger, Vice-Champion of France (2015) and Vice-Champion of the World (2021). Ambassador Leroy described him as “a passionate ambassador of French cheese culture” and a symbol of French excellence.

Chef Giraudon is conducting an intensive training program for Ugandan chefs, sharing his expertise in cheese preparation, presentation, and gastronomy. The initiative is part of FCCU’s goals of promoting skills transfer and building capacity within Uganda’s hospitality sector.

Calling France and Uganda “perfect complements—like wine and cheese,” Ambassador Leroy invited guests to raise a toast to the enduring friendship between the two nations.

“As we raise a glass of Beaujolais Nouveau, we celebrate a cherished French tradition and the long-lasting friendship between France and Uganda,” she said.

The evening featured wine tasting, French cuisine, cultural exchanges, and extensive networking, reinforcing the Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration as one of Uganda’s largest annual community and business gatherings.