To some it will always be regarded simply and with much affection as "The Wentworth", however for those with more modern memories of Sydney's original hotel, the iconic Sofitel Sydney Wentworth hotel is celebrating its milestone 10th anniversary this September as Australia's first and Sydney's flagship hotel for luxury French hotel brand, Sofitel.
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth's 10th anniversary coincides with the momentous 50th anniversary of the Sofitel Luxury Hotel brand worldwide in 2014, marking a half-century since it launched its first hotel in Strasbourg to now offer more than 120 luxury addresses in 40 different countries worldwide.
To celebrate both occasions, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is offering an array of experiences highlighting Sofitel's fine French pedigree and three brand pillars of: design and innovation, gastronomy and wine, and culture and events.
Le Louis XV - Alain Ducasse Photo Exhibition
01 - 30 September
This exhibition showcases 25 frames of photos that represent the restaurant life of Le Louis XV by world-renowned Chef Alain Ducasse. The three Michelin star restaurant is famed for its elegant cuisine and unique setting in the Hôtel de Paris in Monte Carlo.
Alain Ducasse is feted around the world for his superlative cuisine and together with Franck Cerutti, Executive Chef have created a consistent excellence in Le Louis XV.
'Wine & Only' Exhibition
01 - 07 September
An exceptional collection of 13 vintage bottles direct from the Cave Centrale, famous cellars of Monaco's Hôtel de Paris will be exhibited. Each bottle has been chosen due to the rarity, age and grape variety representing the different wine regions in France.
The vintages range from 1809 (Fine Champagne Reserve Sazerac de Forge cognac) to 1964 (a magnum of Château Latour - Pauillac Bordeaux. The collection includes bottles from the finest hallmark Bordeaux Châteaux of Margaux (1934), Lafite Rothschild (1937) as well as Burgundy's legendary La Tache Grand Cru (1942).
A symbol of the rich French tradition of connoisseurship, these bottles have never left
the Cave Centrale until this exhibition and will return to Monaco straight after.
Perrier-Jouët Enchanting Tree
01 - 30 September
For the first time, the Perrier-Jouët Enchanting Tree crafted from the Atelier des Forges will feature in Australia standing 2.5 metres tall and weighing 300kg. This elegant artpiece which exemplifies the craftsmanship of this iconic Champagne House will be on display at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth in the alcove of Soiree Bar throughout the month of September. The Enchanting Tree was originally launched by Tord Boontje and Perrier-Jouët at the Saatchi Gallery in London. Building on the brand's Art Nouveau heritage, Dutch designer Boontje designed champagne service inspired by the changing of the seasons and the champagne moment.
To bring the champagne experience to High Tea, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth is offering a specially-created Perrier-Jouët themed high tea in Soiree Bar. After enjoying the exhibitions, get lost in old world France with a Wentworth High Tea served with Perrier-Jouët champagne presented on a delicate table-sized Enchanting Tree. These miniature trees are designed to create a unique champagne experience with suspended golden branches that can be used to hang six Perrier-Jouët flutes.
The high tea is at $59 per person with a glass of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut champagne, and $160 for a bottle of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut champagne with complimentary high tea for two people valued at $98.
Perrier-Jouët Tea Offer: To book the High Tea in Soiree Bar, call 02 9228 9188
Iconic Paris, Photographs by Jon Rendell
01 September - 01 October
To celebrate 50 years of the Sofitel brand worldwide, Sofitel Australia has commissioned Donald Williams of Global Arts Projects to curate an exhibition of compelling and evocative images of Paris (in homage to the brand's elegant French origins and art-de-vivre) by San Francisco based, Melbourne born photographer, Jon Rendell.
The free public exhibition is on a national tour and will be displayed at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth from September.
Most of the Paris photographs in this exhibition were taken by Rendell in January 1978 and ten years later in January, 1987 just after the opening of the Musée d'Orsay. The exhibition features beautiful black and white photography which as the artist explains; "I began with black and white and limited finances meant that a jump to colour was unattainable in the 70s and 80s, but nowadays with colour everywhere, all the time, I believe that black and white photography, more than ever, has something new for us to observe".
While not clichéd, Rendell's subjects are the familiar iconic images of Paris that we have all grown to admire. They follow in the tradition of other photographers of that city including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau, Brassaï, and Eugène Atget.
Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance
Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40 countries (more than 30,000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today's more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York, Shanghai or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, French Polynesia or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French "art de vivre".
Sofitel Legend and & Sofitel So are two labels that come to enrich Sofitel Luxury hotels.
Sofitel Legend hotels are iconic and mythical; they are often centuries-old listed heritage buildings: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam and Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan, Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena
Sofitel So hotels are new « boutique hotels » characterized by a stylish focus on contemporary design by famous architects and/or embellished by international celebrities from the world of fashion, design or art: Sofitel So Mauritius Bel Ombre, Sofitel So Bangkok and Sofitel So Singapore (2014).
Find out more about Sofitel at www.sofitel.com