The Wine and Gastronomy Brotherhood of A.O.C. Orléans et A.O.C. d’Orléans-Cléry was created some 20 years ago to promote these two wine appellations of the French Centre Val de Loire region, as well as gastronomy associated to quality wines. It celebrated for 17th time the Saint Vincent festival over three days from 19 to 21 January 2028. 48 wine and gastronomy brotherhoods from all over France and from Belgium joined the festivities which took place successively in La Chapelle Saint-Mesmin, Orléans and Cléry-Saint-André.
At the solemn Chapter at the Palais des Beaux-Arts, the Grand Master, Alain Sénéchal, assisted by the Honorary Grand Master, Jean-François Pornin, pronounced inductions in the Brotherhood. Many local dignitaries were present, with, i.a., 5 Deputy Mayors of Orléans, among whom Martine Grivot, who represented the Mayor of Orléans, Olivier Carré, also President of Orléans Métropole, and who hosted all the participants at the Town Hall (Hôtel Groslot) after the ceremony. Among the inducted were made Grand Officers : Christelle de Crémiers. Vice-president of the Région Centre Val de Loire, Conseillère municipale of Gien, Alan Bryden, President of F.I.C.B., and Bernard Vaussion, who for 40 years was the head chef at the Elysée Palace, thus serving successively 4 Presidents of the French Republic.
On Sunday 21 January, all the participants gathered again, this time in Cléry-Saint-André were they were welcomed by the Mayor, Gérard Corgnac and his Deputy Claude Boissay, Vice-President of the Department Council. A mass was celebrated by the Père de Scitiveaux, Grand Prayor of the Brotherhood, in the magnificent Basilica of Cléry-Saint-André, which dates back to the 14th century, with Marc Naudet, President of the Department Council, in attendance. The « vin chaud » (hot wine) offered and served by the Brotherhood to all the participants was well apreciated. The lunch was accompanied by the Choir of the Loire Mariners of Orléans and closed happily the events.
A good example of how a wine brotherhood may highlight its region, promote its wines and its cultural heritage, which is part of the beautiful Val de Loire, registered by UNESCO as a world heritage.
– The Wine Brotherhood : http://confrerie-gastronomie-vins-orleans-clery.fr/
– The A.O.C. : www.aoc-orleans.fr/
– Orléans Métropole : www.orleans-metropole.fr/
(to be noted that Orléans was recently twinned with New-Orleans U.S.A. which has just celebrated its 300th anniversary: see http://www.orleans-metropole.fr/351-6951/fiche/nouvelle-orleans-nouveau-jumelage-annonce.htm and http://wgno.com/2017/11/29/new-orleans-to-finally-become-sister-cities-with-orleans-france/
– Cléry-Saint-André : www.clery-saint-andre.com/
(photo credit : Didier Verchère photographe dvprod45)
