Cultural Events

Every year on July 14th, French people in cities around the world celebrate Bastille Day, the day that marks the beginning of the French revolution that took place in 1789. In Houston this celebration of freedom and fraternity presents a unique opportunity to highlight and appreciate French culture, food, products, beverages and entertainment.

This year, Monday, July 14, Bastille Day was hosted by the MFAH (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston), and it was a free event, as in the traditional way of popular celebration. We enjoyed La Marseillaise Hymn by one of the opera singers of the Franco American Vocal Academy ( FAVA), as well as a delicate buffet served by the restaurant Max et Julie, and  good cognac, good wines, good music.

We would like to thank our sponsors for having made this event possible:

Total Holdings USA, MFAH, Brasserie Max et Julie, Bureau Veritas, CGG Veritas, FAVA, Global Quality Imports, Haynes & Boone, Mystique Brands, Aroma Italiano - Lavazza, Natixis, Riviera Graphics & Printing, Schlumberger, Texan-French Alliance for the Arts, Vallourec & Mannesmann Tubes.

Pictures of the event, here.
 

The lecture on the history of wine was held at the Alliance Francaise and was followed by a reception. A special thank you to our guestspeaker Mr. Gilbert Farah, wine lecturer for the "International Cork Club".

www.internationalcorkclub.org

Pictures.

Paul Bonarrigo, co-founder of Messina Hof* and the 2008 Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo Chairman Award winner, was the keynote speaker of this event.

During this blind wine tasting, Mr Bonarrigo, compared three texan wines from Messina Hof (same vintage, same grapes) with one French (Syrah), one Italian (Cabernet) and one German (Riesling) wine.

He also explained to us the wine basis (grapes varieties, tastes...), the differences between the US wines and the European ones, and finally discussed about the cultural feelings in those parts of world.

It was a tasty way to discover US local products...

*Messina Hof is one of the fastest growing wineries in the Southwest, established since 1977 and a pioneer of the Texas Wine Industry in creating premium wines of distinction and a landmark wine country to visit. 

To see pictures of this event, please go to the gallery.