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Sting was the guest of honour as Chateau Monlot in Saint-Emilion reopened after a five years of improvements to the grand cru vineyard.

To mark the event and to honour Chinese actress and vineyard owner Zhao Wei, the singer was welcomed into the Jurade, the brotherhood of Saint-Emilion winemakers.

He and his wife Trudie Styler were at the ceremony led by Premier Jurat Hubert de Bouärd at the Gironde chateau and the emblematic lead singer of the band The Police donned the Jurade epitoge red and white ceremonial robe.

Zhao Wei is advised in winemaking by Jean-Claude Berrouet, the former oenologist as Chateau Petrus, and they aim to raise the eight-hectare estate Saint-Emilion Grand Cru property to rival the best.

Sting owns the Il Palagio estate in Tuscany where he makes organic white, rosé and red wines, one of which bears the name Message in a Bottle and during the evening at Chateau Monlot he performed an acoustic version for the guests and fellow Jurade confrères.