During his 26 hour stay, Mr. Marc Chapoutier, who supplies wine and spirits merchant Burrows Lightbourn with Rhone wines, was due to meet customers.

"It is important to keep in contact with the market,'' said Mr. Chapoutier, who is on the tail-end of a fortnight tour of the US and the Caribbean.

Two of Mr. Chapoutier's wines were served at the dinner at Government House for the Queen. The wines were La Bernardine and a sweet wine, Muscat Beaumes de Venise.

Yesterday, he was to make a presentation of part of his range of Rhone wines at a luncheon to be held at Burrows Lightbourn for about 20 wine experts.

Mr. Chapoutier will also introduce some new vintages from France that are not yet available on the market.

All wine made at his vineyard, located one hour south of Lyons, is organically produced. The only fertiliser used is sheep's manure.

Mr. Trevor Nicholls, managing director of Burrows Lightbourn, said Mr.

Chapoutier had revolutionised the style of Rhone wine, and galvanised the Rhone wine business.

"They have reduced the yield and increased the quality,'' he said.

Mr. Chapoutier, who spends 200 days a year travelling, attributes this success to "keeping an open-minded approach, travelling the world, and working with nature''. "We only want to drink the greatest wines,'' he said.

Mr. Nicholls said Rhone wines are sold at retail prices in Bermuda which range from $10 to $40 a bottle.

Mr. Chapoutier met with hoteliers from the Horizons group, the Princess hotels, Marriott and Elbow Beach, and also restaurateurs and grocery stores.

Mr. Marc Chapoutier.