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OF THE
CUP-BEARERS OF FRANCE COUNCIL
(Conseil des Echansons de France)
The Art of Winemaking The Art of Wine Appreciation
The Art of Wining and Dining
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INTRODUCTION
BACCHUS was the roman god of wine and feasting. The myth concerning him (with roots in his greek equivalent, Dyonisos) tells the story of a full and exciting life that was closely associated with the enjoyment and developmentt of wine in the Ancient World.
From the Midldle Ages onwards, winegrowers, like many other trades and professions, formed trade associations or lodges, often with religious overtones and each with its own protective Patron Saint. These lodges or Brotherhoods (Confréries) were abolished at the same time as the Monarchy, but re-emerged after the French Revolution in the 19th and the 20th centuries.
Nowadays, the members of the wine-based Brotherhoods, which are often closely linked to specific wine-producing regions or Appellations, can be non-professionals as well as professionals who have banded together with the simple aim of helping to maintain and develop the reputation and character of their specific wines. The various Brotherhoods are recognised by their costumes, their insignia and, of course, the ritual of their induction ceremonies which, often, relate back to their traditional roots.
Over and above their original economic function, the Brotherhoods have become the spiritual home to a vast wine heritage and know-how, where the convivial qualities of good wines can be praised and enjoyed.
The ECHANSON (CUP-BEARER) first appeared in greco-roman mythology and represented, from Ancient Times, the man of confidence who was responsible for serving wine at court.