Mareau-aux-Prés celebrates Books and wine

First show Books & Wines in Terre de Loire on November 16 and 17, 2024 in Mareau-aux-Prés in Loiret. A festive and family event, free. Interview with the publisher Jean-Pierre Delpuech, president of the association Books and Wines in Terre de Loire.

How was the idea for this first Books & Wines fair in Terre de Loire born?

For a while now, I’ve wanted to bring together people who go to book fairs and those who go to wine fairs but who don’t necessarily meet each other by creating a unique event. At the same time, I want to develop culture in rural areas. I therefore wanted to show that in a small village on the banks of the Loire on the left bank like Mareau-aux-Prés, we could offer a quality cultural event. Its mayor Bertrand Hauchecorne immediately supported us. Our goal is to reach all audiences, from 7 to 77 years old as they say.

How will you link literature and wine during this show?

In fact, it is an alliance that is ancestral. Among the Greeks and Romans, literary texts very often refer to wine. Homer considers wine a gift from the gods. Plato presents it as essential to philosophical debate.

And then writers have always had a special relationship with wine. To take a regional example, it accompanies all of Rabelais’ work. Or Balzac who composed his work while drinking a lot of coffee but also Vouvray. I also think of Baudelaire who said: “ To drink wine is to drink genius ».

Exactly which wines will be presented at this show?

So, all the winegrowers of the AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée) Orléans and Orléans-Cléry will be present. Giennois wines will also be represented as well as other Loiret winegrowers. Amateur winegrowers from the department are also welcome. Without forgetting German winegrowers from Stetten-am-Bodensee, a town located on the shores of Lake Constance and twinned with Mareau-aux-Prés. They will come with their famous white wine.

Are the writers present also locals?

For them it is a little broader since we invite publishing houses from Centre-Val de Loire. Of course those who have one or more titles in their catalog that talk about wine, vines or winegrowers because that is the theme of the show. But these publishers will come with the authors published by them.

What are the highlights of the show?

There are many: a round table and three conferences, varied and accessible. Saturday evening, a large “homemade” local dinner accompanied by Mareau wines (20 euros, by reservation but there are only a few places left, Editor’s note). A free show for the general public “It’s the fault of Bacchus”. And on Sunday a great oenological dictation proposed by the associate professor of modern literature from the Nelson Mandela College in Saint-Ay. And since we do things well, his name is Alexandre Vigne!

Comments collected by Sophie Deschamps

To go further on Magcentre : The history of Loire wines in an unpublished book