THE PAULÉE D’ANJOU WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 17, 2024 TO CELEBRATE THE TERROIRS OF THE HISTORIC PROVINCE OF ANJOU
THE PAULÉE, A COLLECTIVE STORY BETWEEN ANJOU NOIR, ANJOU BLANC, SAUMUR AND BOURGUEIL
The Paulée, a collective story between Anjou Noir, Anjou Blanc, Saumur, and Bourgueil. For this 12th edition, the winemakers of the collective gather in a historic location of Bourgueil, the Abbey of Bourgueil. The Paulée d’Anjou collective works with a common goal: promoting the terroirs, history, and wines of Anjou by showcasing its landscapes, great wines, heritage, and the spirit of a collective of winemakers practicing artisanal, organic viticulture
A NEW EDITION - A RICH PROGRAM!
The 12th edition of the Paulée d’Anjou is characterized by a variety of activities taking place in a unique venue. For the first time this year, and due to the success of previous years, several round tables are organized throughout the day. A dynamic program that leaves no time to get bored!
the Program of this 12th edition
Site opens at 9:30 AM
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM: “THE HISTORY OF BOURGUEIL IN ANJOU” and “CABERNET FRANC: 2000 YEARS OF HISTORY”
By Muriel Roudaut, Director M2RP, and Martine Hubert-Pellier, Geographer and Historian
11:00 AM - 12:00 AM: Round table: “CABERNET FRANC CONQUERING BORDEAUX AND THE NEW WORLD”
Moderated by Alexandre Lazareff with the participation of Gabriel Lepousez (Guest of Honor of the Paulée, researcher and neurobiologist), Pierre-Olivier Clouet (General Manager of Château Cheval Blanc), Allison Slute (Canadian columnist @cabfrancchronicles), and Jeanne Yerre (Historian, ampelographer)
12:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Rustic chefs' lunch
Prepared by three rising stars of Anjou gastronomy,
chefs Romain Butet (restaurant Ververt), Florent Mounier (Les P’tites Terrasses),
and Charly Mabileau (Chez Odette)
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: SOIL PITS
by Dominique Boutin (Soil life specialist, former elected member of the Chamber of Agriculture)
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Masterclass
by Alexis Goujard (Journalist-Taster at Revue du Vin de France) and Gabriel Lepousez
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Round table: “HISTORY AND LIFE OF THE SOIL”
moderated by Patrick Baudouin (Winemaker) with the participation of Christine Strullu-Derrien (Paleo-botanist and paleo-mycologist),
Dominique Boutin, Dominique Rioux (INRAE), and Paul Pisani-Ferry (Winemaker)
7:00 PM: Aperitif in the abbey park
8:00 PM: Gala dinner outdoors, in the heart of the abbey's inner courtyard
Highlighting organic and local products & tasting of old vintages at the winemakers’ table
ALL DAY:
Under the Pergola: Tasting of organic wines by the Paulée d’Anjou winemakers
Theatrical scenes around Rabelais
ALSO:
Animal traction demonstration in the vineyard: 11:00 AM-12:00 AM & 5:00 PM-6:00 PM
Guided tour of the abbey: 11:30 AM-12:00 AM & 5:00 PM-5:45 PM
1 GUEST OF HONOR, 1 STAR GRAPE VARIETY
Gabriel Lepousez, an exceptional guest of honor
Members of the Paulée d’Anjou collective are proud to welcome Gabriel Lepousez as this year's guest of honor. A neurobiologist specializing in sensory perception and brain plasticity, Gabriel Lepousez is a researcher at the Pasteur Institute Paris I. He focuses on how the brain perceives smells, particularly the mechanisms by which an odor can be perceived differently based on lived experiences, mood, or context. Passionate about wine, he conducts extensive research on the link between olfactory senses, the brain, and oenology. He studies how the brain interprets all dimensions of smell during wine tasting and is interested in the impact of artificial intelligence on sommeliers.
The Cabernet Franc, the honored grape variety of the 2024 edition.
Cabernet Franc is the major red grape variety of the Anjou Noir appellations. It's a relatively recent name (around 1850) that replaced many vernacular designations (carmenet, carmenelle, vidure, bouchet, bouchy, breton-berton...). It refers to an "ancient" grape variety (before 1500 - Lacombe 2012), probably originating from the southwest of France. With its small berries, it offers aromatic, structured, and fruity wines as a single varietal. In blends, it brings roundness, liveliness, and delicacy. As an emblematic grape variety of the region, it reveals the best of its potential on clay-limestone and clay-siliceous soils.
By taking place at the Royal Abbey of Bourgueil, the Paulée d’Anjou immerses its participants in the history of this grape variety: it was within its walls that the first Cabernet Franc vine was planted in the year 900.
Equally famous, Chenin Blanc also originates from the region. It is believed to have appeared in the 6th century in the heart of the historic province of Anjou. This grape variety adapts to all types of winemaking and can produce dry to sweet wines, whether still or sparkling. It perfectly conforms to the terroirs of the Loire Valley and reflects its best characteristics!
AN EXCEPTIONAL DINNER IN A HISTORIC LOCATION
In a spirit of unity of place, the traditional Paulée dinner is served in the same location: at the heart of the Royal Abbey of Bourgueil's park. Sheltered by large outdoor tents, long and warm tables are set up outdoors, creating a rustic and welcoming atmosphere.
The menu, both convivial and refined, is crafted by three remarkable and renowned chefs from the Loire Valley region.
