One of the most enjoyable consequences of involvement in the food business is the acquaintances and friends you make and develop over the years. Circumstance, common interests and like-mindedness bring us into contact with people far outside our locality.
It is fair to say our involvement and friendship with wine producers and farmers in the Val De Loire region of France is highly valued by us. In particular the Cher Valley a main tributary of the Loire, a land of vines and good agricultural land .Pretty villages and towns line the river as it meanders through the valley, an area rich in history and many beautiful Château’s.
Over the years our friendships in the Cher Valley have developed and so has our understanding of culture and rural life in France, we share in common the pride or French friends have in local produce, the value placed in community and pride in heritage. Our French Connection came about quite by chance. A good friend of ours
Mr Michael Parker, we go back to Woodplumpton young Farmers Days, took the brave step of buying a farm in Chissay and moving lock stock and barrel to set up a farming enterprise along with his wife Susan and their four Children. Michael being very outgoing soon found himself integrating with the local people. We received a phone call at Honeywell’s one day from Michael asking if we could introduce his wine producer friend to good UK wine merchant, we did what we could and as a result we started our association and friendship with the Simoneau family of wine growers and producers. Honeywell’s customers may well have met Carrine Simoneau at a wine tasting at the farm shop; Carrine is extremely knowledgeable regarding wine production and promotes Loire wines all over the world. In the years that have followed we have made many friends and acquaintances in the Cher region attending many Fetes and social occasions, on one such occasion celebrating the new season wine Anthony and John were asked to Judge the local beauty pageant, it was a hard job but we accepted.
The best complement and biggest surprise by far that our friends in France bestowed upon us was to make first Anthony and John Gornall then at a later date Sue and Susan Gornall members the Cher Valley Wine and Food Producers Organisation known as “Chevalier du Cher” It is a great honour to be made a member and is a recognition of excellence in the field of wine and food production. The organisation celebrates and promotes its members produce and importantly share ideas and skills with each other.
To become a Chevalier you must be secretly nominated and have no knowledge of the occasion and when it happens it is complete surprise. You are invested by robed members of the organisation who carry out the ritual. Anthony and John were invested in 2008 by a delegation from the brotherhood at a surprise gathering at Guys Hotel, it was such a surprise that the Anthony and John arrived late for the gathering unaware family, friends and the delegation were waiting for us. Much to our delight brothers Anton and Francois Simoneau were amongst the delegation, the brothers started there careers as butchers and spent the following day with Anthony and John in the farm shop sharing ideas and recipes. Francois won many top awards butchering. François cooks wild game like nobody else I know he can turn the venison from a mature 16 point stag into a meltingly tender, tasty casserole, His slow roasted wild boar served with wild mushroom and chestnut picked from the forest is a treat beyond description .Anton Simoneau followed a different career becoming a grower of vines and a award winning wine producer. Anton enjoys a growing reputation and his wines are found from London to New York.
The surprise investiture was sprung on the two Susan’s at a meeting of the Chevaliers, summer 2010 in France, they had no idea of what was to come and were simply enjoying the occasion when there names were called out to address the meeting. The girls looked a little stunned as they were presented with rather large goblets of wine as the in vesture proceeded, these had to be drunk as the master of ceremony’s proceeded.
I hope you have enjoyed this story we have had some truly
fantastic adventures in France we have many stories and wonderful memories. If you fancy exploring France the Loire region and Cher Valley are well worth the trip, If at all possible, to get an even better experience, get to know the local people and try the regional foods. You will find a little French language will go a long way and the people are very hospitable.
