For the Ban des vendanges in Avignon, “the three Gard bacchic brotherhoods will parade”

Les confréries bachiques défilent chaque année le dernier week-end d’août dans les rues d’Avignon pour le Ban des vendanges. Midi Libre – Archives MiKAEL ANISSET

Le 31 août, Avignon, capitale des Côtes-du-Rhône, accueille son traditionnel Ban des vendanges. Une dizaine de confréries bachiques, dont trois gardoises, participe à cet événement organisé par les Compagnons des Côtes-du-Rhône.

Every last weekend of August, the city centre of Avignon, capital of the Côtes-du-Rhône, is the scene of a major wine festival, where tradition and festive spirit mingle, the Ban des vendanges, which symbolically launches the grape harvest. An event attended by 10,000 people last year, organised by the association of the Compagnons des Côtes-du-Rhône. A circle of professionals in the wine industry, but also enthusiasts, which is growing year by year.

“We are 75 members, with more and more from Gard” notes the president of the association, David Bérard, himself married to a winemaker. Among them, Helena Schmidt from Bagnolaise, director of the Swedish art school of Mont-Cotton, who joined the Compagnons a year ago "to learn about wine culture". Or even the Laudunois Pierre Pappalardo, head of the brotherhoods among the Compagnons des Côtes-du-Rhône. "The three Gard bacchic brotherhoods of the Côtes-du-Rhône are present at the Ban des vendanges: the commandery of Tavel, the gaugers of Lirac and the Gard company” recalls the one who is also secretary of the brotherhood of the Côte-du-Rhône right bank in the Gard, organizer of the primeur walk.

A dozen brotherhoods will parade in Avignon

"On August 31, a dozen bacchic brotherhoods will parade for the Ban des vendanges, which represents about 90 people", specifies the Gardois. The procession will leave around 5 p.m. from the forecourt of the Saint-Agricol church to go to the Notre-Dame-des-Doms metropolis where mass in Provençal will be celebrated at 5:30 p.m. All brotherhoods and the public will then be able to attend the ceremony of proclamation of the Ban des vendanges at 7 p.m., on the Place du Palais des Papes.

Grand marché au Rocher des Doms

For the festive and gourmet side, meet from 5:30 p.m. in the Clos de la Vigne of the Palais des Papes and on the market set up for the occasion at the Rocher des Doms. There, the evening, hosted by a rhythm and blues group, will also be an opportunity to taste wine, before joining the Délirium, from midnight.

"This year, it is the wines of the Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Sablet appellation that have been chosen to be served" underlines the president of the Compagnons. And for the first time, the vintage will be bottled in the image of the monuments of Avignon. "In 2025, it will be an appellation from the Gard rhodanien that will be chosen" he promises.

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