Champagne Bureau Brings French Festival to United States

Rebecca Knapp Adams
Posted: January 21, 1999

The Champagne Wines Information Bureau is hosting Champagnes France Day, a special event to promote the notion that Champagne is not only for special events. The bureau has organized the first U.S.-wide celebration of Saint Vincent's Day, a French festival held every Jan. 22 to honor the patron saint of Champagne growers.

Touted as the first millennium party of 1999 (hence the theme: "The End is Near"), the festivities incorporate dinners, Champagne tastings and the publication of a book of "visionary, utopian and apocalyptic artworks" by artists such as Howard Finster, Joe Coleman and Frank Bruno. Their work is on view for one night only (Jan. 22) at Pseudo Programs in downtown Manhattan (near the Puck Building, where the Outsider Art Fair is opening that same night).

Champagne dinners and tastings will be taking place in venues across the country Friday evening, including Chicago's Pops for Champagne (773) 472-1000, Chef Allen's in Miami (305) 935-2900 and a dinner hosted by chef Susan Spicer of Bayona in New Orleans (504) 558-9992. Reservations are still available at many locations. For general information about Champagnes France Day and a full list of restaurants hosting Champagne tastings and dinners, call (800) 642-4267.