Republic of France Consul General in Miami, Laurent Gallissot hosted the annual salute to the new wine on November 19 at his residence on 80th Street. The event was organized by Good France Miami, an initiative of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs in conjunction with FIPA (French International Program Association). FIPA was founded more than 30 years ago to support the French education program, when Miami-Dade County Public Schools created bilingual programs. Since that time FIPA has continued supporting the French International Studies Program in five Miami-Dade County Public schools: Coconut Grove and Sunset Elementary schools, Carver Middle School, ISCHS and ISPA.
Beaujolais Nouveau Day is marked in France on the third Thursday in November with fireworks, music and festivals. Under French law, the wine is released at 12:01 a.m., just weeks after the wine’s grapes have been harvested. Parties are held throughout the country to celebrate the first wine of the season. Perhaps the most well-known producer of Beaujolais Nouveau is Georges Duboeuf, who is credited as one of the marketing geniuses behind the wine. Selling this young red was viewed by some vintners as a means to clear large quantities of wine at decent profits. The Beaujolais region is 34 miles long from north to south and 7 to 9 miles wide and home to nearly 4,000 vineyards which produce twelve officially-designated types of Beaujolais known as AOCs. (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée).
Pardo of FIPA serve guests.
