April 30th, 2015 – The United Nations, New York, NY
George Sape, Alain Juppé and Bob Wilmers – The American Friends of Cite Des Civilisations Du Vin Wine And Food Extravaganza Gala at The United Nations on April 30, 2015 in New York City
On April 30th, 2015, former French Prime minister and Mayor of Bordeaux Alain Juppé, & former Maitre of the Commanderie de Bordeaux NY & Managing Director of Epstein Becker & Green, George Sape, launched “The American Friends of the Cité des Civilisations du Vin (AFCCV).” The event commenced with a grand celebration — the AFCCV Wine and Food Extravaganza (Worldwide Wine Tasting), an international gourmet tasting gala, befittingly held at the United Nations in New York City. At this highly anticipated event, the American Friends of the Cité des Civilisations du Vin launched its first fund-raising target of one million dollars for naming rights of ‘The Thomas Jefferson Auditorium’ at the Cité. The AFCCV Wine and Food Extravaganza was aptly named, featuring exceptional food and wine from around the globe, renowned gourmet chefs and international entertainment.
Created in the heart of France’s famous Bordeaux wine region, the Cité des Civilisations du Vin (CCV) is a landmark structure designed to house the new world center for wine. Founded upon creative and futuristic thinking, the CCV aims to provide an international destination, protecting the ancient culture of wine and passing down tradition & a universal heritage to visitors from all over the world. Oenophiles and a devoted appreciation of fine wine have deep longstanding cross-cultural ties with American history. While U.S. Ambassador to France (1785-1789), Founding Father and future United States President Thomas Jefferson discovered the wines of Bordeaux, brought French varietals to the US and later produced wine on his property in Monticello, Virginia . “It is said that Thomas Jefferson’s household consumed about 400 bottles (of Bordeaux wine) annually, and around 600 during his time as President of the United States,” said Mayor of Bordeaux Alain Juppé. “As an expert himself, he drew up a list of the finest Grands Crus of Bordeaux, which strikingly resembles the “Classement des Grands Crus 1855” established 70 years later and still valid today.”
The Cité des civilisations du vin will be “the world’s largest wine cultural center dedicated not just to Bordeaux wine but to the universal living heritage of wine around the world from 7,000 BC to the present day,” Alain Juppé detailed in front of a packed room of 340 attendees, including 75 UN Ambassadors. “The Cité is a unique place created to present the world of wine a home, where the grandest wine properties from the great wineries of Europe, Latin America, Australia, Italy, Spain, and the U.S. will meet side-by-side with the smallest wineries from the most remote corners of the world,”the President of the American Friends of the Cité des civilisations du vin George Sape added. Sylvie Cazes, President of the foundation of the Cité des civilisations du vin, and Bob Wilmers, AFCCV Chair of the board, co-hosted the fund raiser along with Alain Juppé and George Sape.
A true extravaganza, and definitely one of the year’s best events….
The Cité des civilisations du vin is scheduled to open to public in the Spring of 2016. Please visit www.citedescivilisationsduvin.com for further details.