Many brotherhoods celebrate this patron saint each year, a traditional moment. St. Vincent is considered as the one watches over the vineyard and as such is honored on January 22. For many wine regions, this celebration is an opportunity to organize festivities, especially in the Bordeaux region.
1- Saint-Vincent, the patron saint of winegrowers
“On St Vincent day, a clear weather forecasts a good year ! ” Or ” If the sun is shining on St. Vincent day, there will be plenty of juice to vine shoot ! ”
Even if the weather is bad on January 22, I prefer to stay positive, convinced that the patron saint of winegrowers will protect them throughout the year. That’s funny to note that Saint Vincent was chosen by many professionals to be their patron saint. In addition to winegrowers, wine merchants, coffee or vinegar maker, sailors and others… all make him their patron saint.
Who was exactly St. Vincent for arousing such devotion ? Why has he been chosen by the wine actors ? In short, St. Vincent was Spanish and lived to be in service of poor people and to make them heard the word of God. However, he refused to do due diligence to the Emperor, that cost him torture and died in a bloodshed on a wine press.
This symbolic of blood flowing in the press instead of wine make him patron saint. Furthermore, we find this symbolism in the etymology of the word “wine-blood “, still evoking the wine that becomes the blood of Christ.
2- St.Vincent is celebrated in all wine regions
You should know that among the stubborn traditions in wine sector, one of the most important is to celebrate St. Vincent, and this regardless of the wine region.
Thus, in Burgundy, every last weekend of January takes place Saint Vincent Festival of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin which honors an appellation of Burgundy. This is of course a festive moment, punctuated by inductions, processions, culminating with a banquet gathering all wineries, each coming with its bottle.
The festivities may be different from a region to another one, but always with the same concern in mind : it’s a celebration of people who work in the vineyards, cellars and vats, whether they are workers or owners.
In Bordeaux, the event is organized by the Commanderie du Bontemps, chaired by Emmanuel Cruse, owner of Chateau Issan. The celebration St. Vincent is always a friendly and warm moment, that brings women and men who work in vineyards, cellars and chests in different services areas, trading houses and brokerages. For the 2014 edition, the celebration will be held on February 2 : it will start with a mass celebrated in Saint-Estèphe by the Archbishop of Bordeaux, Grand Chaplain of the Commanderie, and then some personalities will be honored during an induction ceremony. The lunch will gather between 600 and 1000 persons in a festive atmosphere, worthy of one of the greatest tasting!
Based on sharing and solidarity, the celebration of St. Vincent has the merit of combining tradition and conviviality. If you aren’t part of wine sector, your participation may be moved… But be careful, it depends on the regions, it’s not appropriate anywhere ! Anyway, the second half of January is a perfect moment to visit the properties and participate in many events surrounding the celebration of St. Vincent…
