French wine, some art, meeting new friends and reuniting with old friends? Oui, s'il vous plaît!
The annual Fete du Beaujolais Nouveau will be held at the Dali Museum on Saturday, Nov. 20, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Organized by the
French American Business Council of West Florida (FRAMCO), along with the
Tampa Le-Havre Sister Cities International, Fete du Beaujolais Nouveau is in its 12th year in Tampa Bay.
In France, the third week of November is when the Beaujolais wine is released and is a popular "vin de primeur," a young wine.
"Most wines you just let them age and they get better as they age," says Jean-Charles Faust, president of FRAMCO. "As soon as the Beaujolais wine is released, it can be consumed. It is not a wine you should keep and let age. This is a wine you have to drink when its young."
FRAMCO was founded by Rose Marie Magriby in 1998, and is part of a network of 19 French American chambers in the United States. Tampa has an official relationship with sister city, Le Havre, France, which is the second largest European port.
Fete du Beaujolais Nouveau is used to gather together the local community and French American community members. This year's event will benefit the new
Dali Museum, which is scheduled to open January 11, 2011, and Fete du Beaujolais Nouveau will be the last event prior to the Dali's move to their new home. Guided tours of the Dali artwork will be provided during the event and special guests include the Honorable Gael de Maisonneuve, Consul General of France; Hank Hine, museum director and Yann Weymouth, French American HOK architect.
Tickets are $45 in advance for museum and FRAMCO members, $55 for non-members and $60 after November 16. To RSVP, email:
[email protected] or call Beth Curts at 813-391-4407.
Writer:
Nancy VaughnSource: Jean-Charles Faust, FRAMCO
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