Saint Vincent 2012 wine festival

28 and 29 January 2012

This year marks the 68 th anniversary of this event - a little different from previous years but keeping the same spirit of tradition, culture and friendliness.

What makes this event particularly special is that in 2012 it focuses on 3 centres of the Burgundy wine business: Beaune, Nuits St.Georges and Dijon.

The theme of this year’s festival is to highlight the “climats de Bourgogne”, those different wine growing areas which have made Burgundy so famous and for which an application has been submitted for classification within the UNESCO world heritage sites.

Over the past, it was normally a single village which acted as host for this great winegrowers’ festival – not only the men but also the women winegrowers! – and visitors from all over the world could admire the village decorated by its inhabitants: in fact, a homage to the village and its appellation for one full weekend.

In 3 towns, a visitor this year will be able to discover 7 winegrowing regions of Burgundy – an exciting journey through the Chablisien-Auxerrois, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, Côte Chalonnaise as far as the Mâconnais, indeed a great opportunity to become familiar with the Crémants de Bourgogne and the other regional appellations represented: Burgundy celebrated by its variety!

All the wines concerned by the different areas may be tasted in marquees especially erected for this purpose.

The “climats de Bourgogogne” are the real hosts this year: a strip of land known for 2000 years and located between Beaune, Nuits St.Georges and Dijon, they represent a cluster of paradises on earth to be preserved for future generations and vital in order to be eligible for UNESCO world heritage classification.

Not only will the 2012 festival be an opportunity to appreciate the historical aspects of the wine trade over the ages but also the street entertainment and exhibitions in the villages.

The traditional Saint Vincent parades, headed by the Chevaliers du Tastevin, will take place simultaneously on the Saturday morning in the 2 towns of Beaune and Dijon, before the church services in Notre Dame and St.Bénigne respectively.

In true gallic custom, there is no great occasion without a banquet! In Dijon, this will be served in the Cellier de Clairvaux on Saturday 28 January at 1900hrs (reservations to be made in advance); the menu will be prepared by JP Billoux of the Pré aux Clercs restaurant in Dijon.

As unique as the “climats de Bourgogne”, it should be remembered that the 2012 Saint Vincent festival, in true tradition, is a homage to the spirit of solidarity and mutual aid of the winegrowing community.

Our wish is that everybody will heartily enjoy the 2012 festival during the weekend in January and that all the features which characterize Burgundy, this superb land and its wine culture, will forever be remembered.

Marie Françoise Audoin