Sur Le Pont D'Avignon on y Danse in Avignon, France (Taken by Silvia Merediz)
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Welcome to the Alliance Française of Memphis -- a source of Gallic exuberance in the Mid-South!
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The Memphis chapter of the Alliance Française is not a brick and mortar organization and, therefore, is not a teaching chapter. Inquiries for French lessons should be sent to the Federation at [email protected]. The first Monday of every month, the AFM chapter hosts a conversation table for all levels. The location varies- please contact Teresa Dalle - [email protected]
Wine Tasting, Pandemic Style
Goûtons voir oui,oui,oui. Goûtons voir si le vin est bon . . . . Those words from the refrain of a rollicking old French drinking song invite us to taste the wine to see if it is good. Echoing that old song’s bidding, the AF de Memphis recently issued an invitation to its members to participate in a Covid-prompted, virtual wine-tasting alternative to its annual Beaujolais Nouveau party.
In preparation for the event, held on November 21, participants were sent details regarding the sequence of tasting steps, as well as points to consider in the actual tasting. They also received, in case they were interested, suggestions for purchasing cheeses to taste along with the wines. Then on the day of the tasting, they went to a central location and picked up an individual box of tasting-sized servings of five French wines, along with a package of savory French-style biscuits to munch on while sampling the wines.
President Teresa Dalle baked the little savory cookies, a package tucked inside each box of poured samples, locked down in cups. Thanks also to Juliet, Christine, and Teresa for packaging about thirty boxes and handing them off as we drove into Juliet and Ed’s cove, everyone masked for the handoff. Such are the requirements of these COVID-19 Times !
The wine list for the tasting was composed of two whites: Champalou Vouvray 2018 and NB Robin & Fils Chablis Vielles 2017; one rosé: By.Ott Côtes de Provence 2019; and two reds: Château Cheval Brun Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 and Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf du Pape 2016.
At home later in the day, participants Zoomed to the wine-tasting meeting, where five Alliance members, Reginald Dalle, Christine Lemons, Michelle Crump, Tom Price and Claudio Meier, serving as virtual sommeliers, waited to make the wine introductions and to describe the various characteristics of each one before sipping. Also, Alyce Mantia Price, highly knowledgeable and experienced in French cuisine, provided interesting information about the recommended cheeses.
The invitation to this event promised that the wines to be featured would be ones that you would never buy or order in a restaurant because they are so expensive. That promise was supported by price checks with local sources. For example, a bottle of Mont-Redon 2016 Châteauneuf du Pape 2016 may be purchased at Buster’s for $50, while the same bottle would add $118 to your dinner tab at Folk’s Folly restaurant. Likewise, a bottle of the rosé sells for $27 at Buster’s, but upwards of $55 in a restaurant. The Chateauneuf du Pape, from a 1344 winery whose vines grow deep into the clay of the Avignon region, was a red blend of mostly ganache grapes with sirrah. We participants were invited to taste the ripe cherries, spice cake, and lavender, and perhaps find the reveal of a smoky mineral overtone.
Attended by forty wine enthusiasts, including one in Florida and one in Indiana, the virtual wine tasting was an enjoyable and informative event. Moreover, if—as Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote—wine is bottled poetry, it was also a very poetic experience. Who knew what a memorable, relaxing, cheery-like-ripe-cherries, and brilliant learning time we could experience using technology in such a time?
Maxine Patterson and Patricia Suttle
In preparation for the event, held on November 21, participants were sent details regarding the sequence of tasting steps, as well as points to consider in the actual tasting. They also received, in case they were interested, suggestions for purchasing cheeses to taste along with the wines. Then on the day of the tasting, they went to a central location and picked up an individual box of tasting-sized servings of five French wines, along with a package of savory French-style biscuits to munch on while sampling the wines.
President Teresa Dalle baked the little savory cookies, a package tucked inside each box of poured samples, locked down in cups. Thanks also to Juliet, Christine, and Teresa for packaging about thirty boxes and handing them off as we drove into Juliet and Ed’s cove, everyone masked for the handoff. Such are the requirements of these COVID-19 Times !
The wine list for the tasting was composed of two whites: Champalou Vouvray 2018 and NB Robin & Fils Chablis Vielles 2017; one rosé: By.Ott Côtes de Provence 2019; and two reds: Château Cheval Brun Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 and Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf du Pape 2016.
At home later in the day, participants Zoomed to the wine-tasting meeting, where five Alliance members, Reginald Dalle, Christine Lemons, Michelle Crump, Tom Price and Claudio Meier, serving as virtual sommeliers, waited to make the wine introductions and to describe the various characteristics of each one before sipping. Also, Alyce Mantia Price, highly knowledgeable and experienced in French cuisine, provided interesting information about the recommended cheeses.
The invitation to this event promised that the wines to be featured would be ones that you would never buy or order in a restaurant because they are so expensive. That promise was supported by price checks with local sources. For example, a bottle of Mont-Redon 2016 Châteauneuf du Pape 2016 may be purchased at Buster’s for $50, while the same bottle would add $118 to your dinner tab at Folk’s Folly restaurant. Likewise, a bottle of the rosé sells for $27 at Buster’s, but upwards of $55 in a restaurant. The Chateauneuf du Pape, from a 1344 winery whose vines grow deep into the clay of the Avignon region, was a red blend of mostly ganache grapes with sirrah. We participants were invited to taste the ripe cherries, spice cake, and lavender, and perhaps find the reveal of a smoky mineral overtone.
Attended by forty wine enthusiasts, including one in Florida and one in Indiana, the virtual wine tasting was an enjoyable and informative event. Moreover, if—as Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote—wine is bottled poetry, it was also a very poetic experience. Who knew what a memorable, relaxing, cheery-like-ripe-cherries, and brilliant learning time we could experience using technology in such a time?
Maxine Patterson and Patricia Suttle
Cafe et Croissants at La Baguette December 2019
Beaujolais Nouveau November 2019
AFM Weekend in St. Genevieve, Missouri
Apéro Dinatoire
The Alliance Diner group enjoys an Apéro Dinatoire at Robert Burns' downtown condo- hosted by Robert Burns and Alyce Mantia Price and Tom Price
La Rentrée 2018
The 2018 edition of La Rentrée was held at the Esplanade off Germantown Parkway. What a wonderful event!
Flavors of Morocco Dinner
Alyce Mantia Price and Tom Price entertain Alliance members at a dinner auctioned off to benefit the Alliance. This year's theme was the Flavors of Morocco.
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Le Tirage des Rois 2018
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Members of AFM Celebrate
Wedding Anniversary of Jean Louis Boursier and Carmella Rodriquens
Wedding Anniversary of Jean Louis Boursier and Carmella Rodriquens
La Table Group
at Old Venice Pizza Company
at Old Venice Pizza Company
Scent and Symbolism
at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens
at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens
Evening of Tapas
at Chez les Jones
at Chez les Jones
A Taste of Italy
Auction Winners with Chef Alyce Mantia Price and Husband Tom
Phillip Ashley Gourmet Chocolate & Wine Pairing
798 S. Cooper
798 S. Cooper
