Commanderie du Bontemps Flashcards
How many members comprise the Commanderie du Bontemps, and what types of entities are they?
315 members from the domains and chateaux of Bordeaux’s Left Bank, as well as from key businesses in the Bordeaux wine industry, which are the region’s Wine Trade Companies and Brokerage Firms.
Name the 3 symbols of the Commanderie du Bontemps
1) The ornamental clasp, 2) The Bontemps Bowl, 3) The Robe
Describe the Ornamental Clasp
The clasp is the symbol of the Bontemps. It bears the initials of the Commanderie encircling the “desquet” (the Bontemps Bowl). It is presented to all Honorary Commandeurs at the end of the investiture ceremony, and it embellishes the robe worn by all members of the Brotherhood.
Describe the Bontemps Bowl
Jean–Odule Paulin d’Esquet, the founder of the Commanderie, lived in the ninth century and is said to have invented a special wooden bowl, known as a “desquet” in the Gascon language after its inventor, and a “bontemps” in French. Cellar masters use this bowl to beat the egg whites for fining the wine. The “Bontemps” was an essential piece of equipment for the winemaker, small and simple to use, and is now the emblem of the Commanderie du Bontemps.
Our headdress is inspired by this small bowl: a Bordeaux-coloured velvet cap for the Médoc and Graves, golden-yellow coloured velvet for Sauternes and Barsac, to recall the wood tinged by new wine and the touch of white organdie represents the snowy whiteness of beaten egg whites.
Describe the Robe
The robe is a simplified version of the ceremonial garment worn by the monks in medieval times. Full pleats of Bordeaux-coloured velvet are embellished by an epaulette, which is green for members from the Médoc and Sauternes, green and gold for members from the Graves. The ornamental clasp that holds the epaulette in place shows the Brotherhood’s emblem, the “Bontemps”, and bears the insignia of the Order around it.
Name the Spring festivals held by the Commanderie du Bontemps
1) Saint Vincent’s Day - January 22
2) The Ban du Mllesime - Date varies (often in April)
3) Fete de la Fleur - Date varies (often in June)
Name the Fall events held by the Commanderie du Bontemps
1) The Medoc Marathon
2) the Fete des Vendanges
What new event is held in Asia by the Commanderie du Bontemps?
An inauguration dinner for Vinexpo Asia-Pacific
Describe Saint Vincent’s Day
Vincent of Zaragoza, a deacon and martyr who lived during the 4th century, is the patron saint of winegrowers. Saint-Vincent’s Day (January 22) is one of the three major annual gatherings of the Commanderie. The location varies from year to year, either in the Médoc, Graves, Sauternes, or Barsac, or even in Bordeaux, the regional capital of the Left Bank Appellations.
Describe the Ban du Millésime
First held in 2000, the Ban du Millésime is the Commanderie’s newest event. Initiated by and for wine merchants who are members of the Commanderie and organised in collaboration with the Union des Grands Crus, the event is an opportunity for leading Bordeaux Wine Trade companies to invite their customers and friends. Several estate owners join them to present the new vintage to French and international journalists during a dinner, which is always held in a prestigious setting in Bordeaux.
Describe the Fête de la Fleur
In 1950, the Commanderie was still in its early stages and created a springtime festival. This springtime festival rapidly became the flower festival and in 1959, when the Graves brotherhood joined together with that of the Médoc, the Fête de la Fleur was established with the support of the Commanderie du Bontemps de Sauternes et Barsac.
But why dedicate a festival to a flower and to which flower? It could only be for the abundant, but discreet vine flower! Winegrowers anxiously wait for these flowers to appear and watch over them closely, because the quality of flowering brings hope for the future harvest, both in terms of quality and quantity. These tiny white flowers blossom after those of the acacia tree, with its large, loose bunches. The wood of the acacia tree is used for making vine stakes. Winegrowers also observe the date when white lilies bloom, using an empirical indicator to set the harvest date. Modern technology has enabled us to check the verity of this ancient custom of harvesting 100 days after the mid-stage of the vine flowering and 90 days after the flowering of the white lily. These days analysis to check the ripeness of various grape varieties allows these dates to be modified slightly.
Describe the Médoc Marathon
Co-founder and leading partner of the Médoc Marathon in terms of time and importance of means invested, the Commanderie du Bontemps provides its backing and assistance for this major Médoc event, which every year welcomes 8,500 runners and involves the efforts of 2,300 volunteers. Initially launched in 1984 by a group of marathon enthusiasts, the “Médoc” has become a key event on the marathon runners’calendar. For the organisers, this race is based upon four fundamental and inseparable elements: Health, Sport, Conviviality, and Fun. In one single course, this Marathon winds around a loop taking runners through more than 50 wine estates.
Describe the Fête des Vendanges
Previously named the “Ban des Vendanges”, the Fête des Vendanges takes place every year in the month of September. The origin of the “Ban des Vendanges” (Harvest date Declaration) is principally a feudal custom. It was a right applied by Lords who, by this measure, protected a modest financial income. During the three main centuries of the Middle Ages (13th, 14th and 15th) the vine belonged to the winegrowers, more precisely to the “vine worker”. The land owners gave up in “quasi-ownership” their vine growing land to a technically developed workforce, retaining for themselves a maximum of a quarter or fifth of the harvest.
Originally, the aim of the “Ban des Vendanges” was to assist and verify the distribution of the harvest. A date was stringently set for the start of the harvests, which is no longer current practice today. Without the existence of the harvest date declaration, the grapes would have been gathered before reaching a point of ideal ripeness, in order to cash in as early as possible. From this part of our history which stretches from the Middle Ages to the storming of the Bastille, we can find two extremely differing dates for the beginning of harvests in the Gironde: 9th September and 20th October. Such differences in date show the vigilance of this winegrowing governing body with regards to the various stages of ripeness for the grapes. These days, the prefectural authority no longer sets the date for harvests to begin, but the Commanderie du Bontemps is keen to honour this initial stage in the life of a vintage by holding its own Harvest Festival.
Describe Vinexpo Asia-Pacific
As an opening event to Vinexpo Asia Pacific, held in Hong Kong every two years, the Commanderie now organises its customary and prestigious inauguration Gala dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Hong Kong. More than 600 guests come from all over the world to taste the fine wines of the Médoc, Graves, Sauternes and Barsac. The menu concocted by the chef of the Grand Hyatt Hotel is comprised of french dishes, finely balanced to match the qualities of these Left Bank wines.
