“I have always had in mind the idea of bringing together audiences who do not always meet,” confides Orléans publisher Jean-Pierre Delpuech, at the initiative of the latest festival in Centre-Val. -de-Loire, “Books and wines in Terre de Loire” which will take place on November 16 and 17 in Mareau-aux-Prés (Loiret). Previously, he participated in the creation of the Orléans book fair.
His meeting “which became a friendship” with Bertrand Hauchecorne, the mayor since 2020 of Mareau-aux-Près, is at the origin of the birth of this unique festival in the region. “I was the first to be surprised that there had never been a book and wine fair in our region, in the land of “Rabelais, the father of the French novel”, recognizes Jean-Pierre Delpuech, who presides over the destinies of the organizing association, very inspired by the principles of the social and solidarity economy (ESS).
“We operate local solidarity in response to the needs of the territory with a social purpose. This is why we received a favorable welcome from the region and its president François Bonneau, from the Loiret department and its vice-president Jean Mesas, the mayor of Beaugency, who immediately saw the economic interest in the development of wine tourism,” he says.
For this first edition, the association, which invited German winegrowers from Stetten-am-Bodensee, the German twin town of Mareau-aux-Prés, who will present their white wines produced on the banks of Lake Constance, has concocted a copious and almost entirely free menu (including the burlesque show “It's the fault of Bacchus” by Amédée Bricolo).
Only the “collector” tasting glass, on which the show poster has been engraved, and the big “local dinner” on Saturday evening (20 euros) will be chargeable. Many regional publishers such as the Presses universitaire de Tours, la Guêpine or Corsaire édition, have been involved in this adventure: “As we did not want to limit ourselves to wine literature, they will come with many authors who will present history books , novels, general literature, to satisfy all tastes. With a little extra on wine, vines and gastronomy,” continues Jean-Pierre Delpuech.
All practical information can be found on the event's Facebook page. Wine lovers will be delighted by the numerous conferences and round tables, while a major oenological dictation will be offered to the public on Sunday November 17.
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