2005 Grandes Tablées du Saumur-Champigny
In 2005 the producers of Saumur-Champigny invited a group of British press and other friends of the Loire, like Nigel Wilkinson (RSJ Restaurant) to Les Grands Tablées. The visit was truly memorable and included a a cricket match as well as a boules forts competition. The British contingent was ungracious enough to win both contests.
Now 10 years later we have been invited back. Not sure where they will find bowler hats as I haven't seen anyone wearing one for many years. One of the last great bowler hatted gentlemen – Trad Jazzman Acker Bilk – died last November.
Les Grandes Tablées du Saumur Champigny:
“So British”, August 5th and 6th 2015
Saumur Champigny’s winegrowers have promised to sport bowler
hats as they greet their British friends on August 5th and 6th
this year. Last year, the focus for this great event was Belgium and the
dominion of King Philippe; this year the spotlight falls on the loyal subjects
of Queen Elizabeth II. The British are no strangers to this part of the world, and
will no doubt make time to visit Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart
who are buried nearby in the Abbey at Fontevraud.
Now in its 15th year – 6,000 meals served in
the centre of town!
6,000 meals served to 3,000 guests per day over 2 evenings,
with another 2,000 strolling by just to have a look – this event has really
struck a chord with the public. Every summer, Saumur becomes a huge open-air
restaurant full of good humour and festive spirit. Long rows of tables are set out
in the town square for visitors to enjoy local foods and Saumur Champigny wines
in the company of the winegrowers themselves. On Wednesday 5th and
Thursday 6th August, a full 2 km of tables will be in position outside
the town hall, ready to welcome this year’s guests.
Yes, there really is such a thing as good British food…
To dispel the myths, organisers are going out of their way
to prove that British gastronomy is alive and well. Alongside local Saumur
products, they will be serving mushroom pies, pork pies, fresh seasonal
vegetables, goat’s cheese, blueberry chutney, red berry crumble…all the
traditional English favourites revisited.
Pop Music
Unfortunately the current British Pop Idols can’t join us on
this occasion, but the 5 bands we have lined up to entertain us in the Place de
la République are sure to pay them fitting tribute. Programme to be confirmed.
La Cuvée de 100 Vignerons
There will, of course, be unlimited wine to accompany your
meal, with 20 stands around the Place de
la République serving 4,000 bottles of Saumur Champigny Cuvée de 100 Vignerons.
This is a wine made especially for the occasion: around 100 vignerons
contribute 15 kg of grapes each to make a wine which ‘reflects the
vintage’. Every year, 4 of these cuvées are served during the evenings, young
wines as well as older ones.
An international attraction
Les Grandes Tablées de Saumur Champigny was the first event
of its kind, and the first to win the Ministry of Agriculture’s “Grande Tablée
– les Rabelaisiennes” seal of approval, spearheading their drive to create a
series of similar gourmet events in towns and cities all over France. Together with
FESTIVINI, a wine festival held in September, Les Grandes Tablées de Saumur
Champigny won the Prix René Renou in 2013, a prize awarded by ANEV, the National
Association of Official Vine and Wine Representatives and FIJEV, the
International Federation of Wine and Spirits writers.
Details: Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th
August 2015 from 7pm, Place de la République in Saumur. Prices: Meal and
an engraved tasting glass - €12.00. Tasting glass only - €5.00
To book your place:
Saumur Tourist Office, quai Carnot, 49400 Saumur
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