After an extensive pitching process, it is confirmed that Stockholm based Gastro PR has been chosen to be the official Nordic representative for Comité Champagne – the industry organization representing grape growers and houses in Champagne, France. [read the full champagne story]
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Led by Elina Gregor, founder of Gastro PR, the team also consists of Maria Torén and Maya Samuelsson, forming the Champagne Bureau Nordics.
Comité Champagne was established in 1941 and is the professional institute which brings together all stakeholders involved in Champagne such as growers, co-operative and houses. The Comité’s mission is to promote the vines and wines of Champagne through a broad remit that includes economic, technical and environmental development; continuous quality improvement; sector management; marketing and communications; and the promotion and protection of the Champagne denomination across the world.
Comité Champagne represents over 16,200 growers, 130 cooperatives, and 370 Champagne houses, ensuring equal conditions for both small-scale grape growers and large international players. There are nine other Champagne Bureaus worldwide representing USA, Great-Britain, Japan, Italy, Germany and Austria, Benelux, Switzerland, Australia, China. Now, Gastro PR becomes the first official agency for Champagne in the Nordic region.
Elina Gregor will be the Director of Champagne Bureau Nordics. She is the founder of Gastro PR, which is a PR-agency, known for its unique network and a focus on food and beverages. She has recruited Maya Samuelsson, an award-winning sommelier and educator, with specialized knowledge of champagne, a writer for ELLE Magazine, coach for the Swedish National Sommelier Team, and a familiar face on TV. Maya Samuelsson will lead educational components and contribute with expert knowledge to the Nordic agency’s mission.
Also, part of the team is Maria Torén, PR consultant with years of experience in the hospitality industry, with a strong connection to Languedoc. Maria is also a trained sommelier, leading wine tastings, wine education, and wine tours, and working as a wine journalist. Her previous PR-assignments include, among others, the Nobel Banquet.
“We are incredibly proud to represent Champagne in the Nordics. As a specialized agency with the right expertise and the network, we’ve had the opportunity to assemble a truly unique team. We look forward to further enhancing knowledge about this unique wine region and facilitating the industry in the Nordics,”
says Elina Gregor, founder of Gastro PR and Director of Champagne Bureau Nordics.
Champagne Bureau Nordics’ mission primarily aims to educate, inform, update, and communicate with Nordic stakeholders such as media, chefs, sommeliers, and importers to enhance understanding of the Champagne appellation and the importance of origin.
“We are eager to communicate with everyone interested in champagne: wine importers, journal ists, sommeliers, and chefs. Through Champagne Bureau Nordic, one can stay updated with the latest from the region,”
adds Elina Gregor.
“We, Maya, Maria, and I, have just returned from an educational trip to Champagne and look forward to getting started with the operations of Champagne Bureau Nordics as the first official PR agency for the region in the Nordics. We feel very honoured by th is assignment,”
concludes Elina Gregor.
___
For more information, press releases, and newsletters related to the Nordic region:
Comité Champagne
contact Elina Gregor, Director of Champagne Bureau Nordics:
champagne@gastropr.se
Elina Gregor, Director & Spokesperson Champagne Bureau Nordics
Elina Gregor has over 15 years of experience in PR from both Los Angeles and Sweden. Elina has worked as a project manager, consultant, PR manager and co-owner of some of Sweden’s largest communication agencies and mainly with food and beverage-related customer assignments. Elina is often interviewed and lectures about food and drink trends in the media, and is known for her ability to produce effective and creative campaigns. She has an impressive track record of successful assignments, many thanks to her network and proximity to key people.
Maria Torén
Maria Torén has well-established relationships with media and brings a wide Swedish network of contacts consisting of both traditional media and influencers.Maria is responsible for PR and communication for the Nobel Banquet. She is also working with both corporate and press issues with the Stockholm City Council. On top of that Maria is a journalist, sommelier, lectures in wine classes and arranges food & wine trips to France. Maria will lead tastings and work with public relations.
Maya Samuelsson
Maya Samuelsson will lead educational components and contribute with expert knowledge to the Nordic agency’s mission. Maya is partner of Vinkällan Scandinavian Wine Academy. Maya is a regular wine personality on TV4 Nyhetsmorgon, host of several wine shows such as the international TV-show “Wine first” and “Drinking with Joe and Maya”. Maya is also a blogger for ELLE Sweden, and a regular contributor to ELLE Magazines wine pages. Maya won Lily Bollinger Awards (Sweden) in 2015. Her field of expertise is Champagne, where she is considered one of Sweden’s top Champagne experts. Maya has visited Champagne over 20 times. In 2016, Maya won Ruinart Nordic Challenge. Maya is the coach of the Swedish Sommelier team and has also competed in the Swedish Championships where she has placed top 3 every single time. Maya is on the board of the Swedish Sommelier Association.
