Friday, January 17, 2014

Les Trois Glorieuses

In the third story of the trilogy, 'Beune Appetit' Bette and Deuce are in Beaune, the center for wine trade in France's Burgundy region. The Trois Glorieuses or three glorious days takes place the third weekend of November. The first event is held on Saturday at the Clos Vougeot, a producer of some great Burgundies. Its vineyards were first planted in the year 1111. There is an induction ceremony and dinner at Clos Vougeot. Deuce will be inducted into the Burgundian wine tasting society, the Confrérie des Chevaliers des Tastevin. Clos Vougeot is pictured below:



On the second day the Hospices de Beaune charity auction takes place. The Hospice is the world's oldest charity hospital. It was founded in 1443 and up until the 1970s it operated as a charity hospital for the poor, the destitute and homeless. In 1851 the charity wine auctions were started. The Domaine des Hospices de Beaune owns about 61 acres of parcels that have been donated to the Domaine over the years. The auction consists of wines, still in the barrel, made from those parcels and the auction prices more or less set the pricing on the current vintage which will be released a few years down the road. Below is a picture of the Hospices de Beaune:





On the third day of the Glorieuses is the Paulée. It is held at the Chateau de Meursault and starts with a lunch at 12 noon. But it isn't just any old lunch! Burgundy producers bring what they consider are their best bottles--some may go back fifty years. The event breaks up around 9 that evening. Deuce likes to think of this event where one can get trashed on some of France's greatest Burgundies--all for free! Pictured is the Chateau de Meursault below:





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