Looking for something interesting – and delicious – to do during the weekend? Go to Saumur in Maine-et-Loire! Art of winemaking and literature are meeting on April 12 and 13 in Saumur, for the 19th edition of the Books and Wine National Days.
What would you think about spending the entire day/weekend chatting with talented authors while sipping on delicious Loire wine and tasting some French food specialties? Tempting isn’t it?
Especially when the motto of the event is to celebrate l’ivresse littéraire (literally the literary inebriation).
Let me give you a quick picture of the program. Take 140 authors – more or less renowned – and around twenty winemakers and let them introduce you to their work. There will also be autograph sessions, discussions on literature, initiations to the art – yes art – of winetasting and various musical and artistic performances.
You may wonder, why in the Loire region then? As you probably have guessed, it is an – interesting – way to promote Loire wine, which sadly lacks of reputation in the mind of the general public.
However, the idea to organize this event in the region of Saumur has deeper historical roots. Indeed, many French authors such as Rabelais, Balzac, Flaubert, Ronsard or even Alexandre Dumas – my favorite author if you remember well, and your soon-to-be favorite author too – apparently lived, spent some time or were inspired by the region and its wine.
The only thing I regret is that the event is only focused on French authors and on Loire wine – which I personally like – thus forgetting some delicious book and wine pairings.
So, anyone interested in launching the International Books and Wine Fair with me?
In conclusion, if you are free on April 12 and 13, do not hesitate to go there (entrance for only six euros) and take some time to visit some of the impressive castles in the surroundings.
For more information, go check their website: Journées Nationales du Livre et du Vin (sorry, it is only in French…)
Books and wines 