This was the fifth St.Vincent we've been to. The first was probably around 2005. The venue then was the salle de fête in Cravant. A few people arrived for drinks and speeches, before heading into the big marquee attached to the back of the building for a splendid lunch. There were 600 people that day. Eight years on to St.Vincent 2014 and there were around 1300 for lunch.
St.Vincent in Cravant has become a big operation and expectations are always very high. There are three parts to the celebration. The lunch, followed by wine tastings, followed by a buffet and dance. Sounds straightforward? It's extremely complex. Fortunately Cravant's organising committee - le comité de fête - knows exactly what it's doing. This year they surpassed themselves.
Work on site started on the Wednesday. In the lead-up to the Saturday, a very splendid marquee was erected in a large field just off the village centre opposite the football pitch; portable loos were set-up. Inside the marquee a wooden floor was put in, heating, lighting, sound system, a raised stage area and floral decorations. Chairs and tables obviously, which given it's silver service all the way, were beautifully laid up. A large kitchen was installed in another marquee which was attached to the main marquee. The same caterers have been supplying the event for a few years now. The chef/traiteur is Bernard Tardivon. Quite simply he and his team are superb.
The committee has continuously raised its game over the years with regards to St.Vincent. Every time we've gone, we've known we'd have a good time. But this year the quality was different. Why? It's hard to pin it down to one thing. But every aspect was classy. There's a clear strategy at work to establish St. Vincent at Cravant as a high profile event. And it has succeeded, which is good for the village as a whole. There were probably as many visitors (if not more) from outside Cravant than in, with quite a few coming for the first time. This year has set a very high bar for the follow-up and for 2015, the talk is of 1500 people.
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| Menu photo courtesy Di Harvie |
Our friends Di and Tony came over specially from the UK and met some of our neighbours. There were eight of us going together. We all met round at the house of our friends Jacqueline and Norbert at 11am for a glass of fizzy - just to get us going! Then we walked down to the site. Weatherwise it was ideal. Dry.
Lunch began at around 1.45pm. On the tables were rosé and red wines, supplied by local vignerons, and some of that - what d'ya call it - that see-through wet stuff. Of course! Water! With each course came a special wine, also supplied by local vignerons. The menu was divine. Delicious apéros, amuse bouches, carpaccio of St. Jacques, poire william sorbet, duckling and foie gras, gorgeous cheeses, beautiful desserts. It was all bang on. Fantastic! Simply stunning in flavour, creative in presentation and cooked to perfection.
In between courses there was live entertainment: traditional local songs for which the words were provided - rousing stuff this singing together; a music trio who played two or three sets, a tombola (each table won two prizes) and a comedian. For us the comedian is always more difficult - loads of slang at speed. This time the comedian was an impressionist, singing as well as word jokes. He was simply brilliant. The impersonation of Mr. Holland - well I thought everyone was going to burst. He got a standing ovation at the end - totally deserved.
I think the meal finished about 9.00pm. Not sure. If I say I can't remember, there'll be loud sniggering. But I can't remember because I was having such fun, time became irrelevant. Then everyone left for the wine tastings. While everyone was away, the layout in the marquee was changed round for the buffet and dance. For the meal, the tables had stretched the full length of the marquee. Now they were moved to the sides, leaving a large dance area in the middle, with a line of tables across the back wall, where the buffet and wine were to be laid out. Music was provided by a five-piece band who were really really good. In the meantime us punters were visiting four wine producers from Cravant and Panzoult. In order: Fabrice Gasnier, Jean-Louis Loup, Chauveau (Pallus) and Beauséjour. Buses had been laid on to safely ferry us around to each of the estates in relay. That way there were never too many people in one place. It was such fun. The atmosphere was hilarious on board with loads of singing and messing around. We got back to the marquee around midnight and then just spent the rest of the night dancing around, having something to eat and drink. Not sure what time we got in, 2.30/3am maybe. I don't think it finished till 4am.
Part of a successful event is finding sponsors and in that respect St.Vincent attracts good support. Put it this way, the tickets for the St.Vincent event, which includes absolutely everything was Euros 81 or approximately £67 per head. Quite extraordinary.
St. Vincent is impossible to 'train' for. In fact this year was the first time we'd got round the whole thing. It's a seriously long day, with loads of food and drink. But every part of it is so well paced that you can just keep going. No problem. What a fantastic experience.
Bravo to the team!
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