Grace and peace to you, my beloved brothers and sisters in the faith, on this great feast of one of my favourite Saints, Martin of Tours, who, while serving as the patron of soldiers, horses, innkeepers, beggars, and France, was also given the enviable title of patron of winemakers and viticulture in general. For this we pause to give thanks for the life and ministry of St. Martin of Tours.
His association with winemaking comes from a wonderful old fable, and though it lacks, shall we say, a pristine historiography, still warms many hearts and can surely sweeten our joie de vivre.
According to lore, Martin was travelling one day through the Loire valley in central France, on a donkey no less (yes, he was humble; no Pony Express for him) when, after having tied his steed to a rather large grapevine whilst he made a pastoral visit at the Abbey of Marmoutier, returned to find the donkey having pruned the ancient vine almost down to the ground, after which and upon harvesting and fermentation, the local monks determined Martin's method yielded the best wine they’d ever tasted!
Thus, says the story, perfect Sancerre – that most crisp and delightful of white wines – was perfected for all future generations to enjoy. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, it is an empirical fact that vines are still pruned quite low to the ground in the Loire to this day.
I point all this out for two reasons: first, I love good wine and I hope you do, too. Secondly, and more importantly, I offer this to you so that we all may be emblazoned to live life as Martin was fond of doing. That is, I pray we will continue to see the power of Christ in all that we do, whether we’re casting out demons, proclaiming the good news of redemption, or, Deo Volente, pouring a glass of Sancerre.
Looking for a recommendation? Try Chateau De Sancerre 2008, Sauvignon Blanc with some shellfish and goats cheese on the side.
Bon appétit!
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