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... Now I am sure you'll agree that there is something slightly decadent about savoring wine aboard the open top of a double deckered bus (painted like big yellow taxi with red baloons) at the start of a warm Manhattan summer. Yet well over a dozen journalists did just that on May 4th to celebrate the start of the Sude de France Festival.

The fun started earlier, with smiling PR girls and boys dressed in striped shirts and straw hats handing hats to guests at the Maison de la Région Languedoc-Roussillon and officials speaking about the summer festivities ahead which include free “open house” educational seminars and tastings of the region’s wines led by Sud de France spokesperson and wine expert Jamal Rayyis and other experts at the Maison de la Région Languedoc-Roussillon (10 East 53rd Street) on Tuesday, June 15 through Friday, June 18, from 6 to 9 PM each evening.

The first event will be a wine blending seminar, where guests will receive an expert-guided tasting and lesson in blending the characteristic grape varieties of the region with pipettes to create their own special cuvée of Languedoc-Roussillon wine. You will definetely see me  there -- I spent three weeks in the region last summer and would love to have the chance to play winemaker.

Once we boarded the bus, musicians played and people all up and down fifth avenue starred and waived. Our first destination was Cafe Noir, a chic French spot where the patrons, mainly couples enjoying a warm pre-summer night, appeared rather surprised at what appeared to be "tourists" flooding into "their" cafe. After a few minutes (we were escorted to a private room) diners relaxed and smiled, realizing they had the lucky experience of being participants in an "event" and enjoyed the music and dancing that ensued.

Next on the list was Casimir, another quaint wine bar, and Fada ... with yet more wine, music, and dancing.

Below you will find some more highlights offered from Sud de France. I LOVE the wine from this region, and if you are looking for a place to visit this summer, it is incredibly gorgeous. 

More from Sud de France festivities in NYC:

In July, highlights include a winemaker brunch on the 11th at the brand new location of Le Pain Quotidien at Central Park and West 70th street, as well as special events surrounding Bastille Day. For wine professionals, there will be a sommelier contest to choose this year’s Sud de France Festival sommelier of the year on July 12th.

Throughout New York, the 59 wine retailers are organizing in-store tastings and educational sessions on the wines of Sud de France. Participating restaurants include Les Halles, the Tour de France restaurant group including Café d’Alsace, French Roast, Marseille, L’Express, Pigalle, Le Monde, and Maison and The Forgeois Group’s Cercle Rouge, Bar Tabac and Le Singe Vert. Participating bars include 8th Street Wine Cellar and Flûte. An exciting addition to this year’s Sud de France Festival is Le Pain Quotidien, which will exclusively feature organic wines of Languedoc-Roussillon (two red, two white and a rosé and sparkling wine) alongside the wines of founder and Languedoc-Roussillon resident Alain Coumont. During the Festival, Le Pain Quotidien will showcase a special Sud de France menu including gourmet ingredients from the region.

Sun-drenched and ripened to perfection, the wines of Languedoc-Roussillon are amongst the most diverse with red, white, rosé, sparkling and sweet wines for every occasion at every price point. The Sud de France program has a goal of expanding New Yorkers’ knowledge of this region, including the fact that Languedoc-Roussillon produces more wine and the largest amount of organic wines of any other wine region in the world. Complete information on the Sud de France Festival, including promotions and participating venues, dates, locations for cooking and pairing demonstrations, and information on the wines and cuisine of Languedoc-Roussillon can be found on: www.festival-suddefrance.com/ny

ABOUT SUD DE FRANCE
The Sud de France Festival is an international campaign conducted by Sud de France Export, an agency which promotes the wines, culinary products, and industries of the French region of Languedoc-Roussillon in the world. The Festivals are conducted in Shanghai, London, Brazil, New York and Mexico. The Maison de la Région Languedoc-Roussillon is the Midtown Manhattan-based office of Sud de France Export, one of five in the world.

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