By Drs. Eva Maria E. Mennes.
France knows how important culture can be to promote a country. One of the most
charming ways to advertise ‘La douce France’ in autumn is the Fête Du Beaujolais. Every
year it is a tradition at the Wittenburg Castle. Already at the gate a ‘French police man’
guided your car up to the driveway through the wood, lightened with big torches and
again a ‘Police man’ helped you to find the way on the driveway. Valet parking took over
and you were welcomed with French music on the stairs and at the entrance of course by
the manager of the castle Mrs. Hoogeweegen. After a first glass of wine, served by
‘French waitresses’, 21 2CVs, the funny little French cars, crossed the terrace of the
castle to bring ‘French Police’, ‘Cancan girls’ and last but not least the excellent chef Jan
Willem Rietfeld and his staff all with the French Tricolore and magnum bottles of the new
red wine, the Beaujolais Primeur up to the castle. Ralf Meppelder, the general manager of
Wittenburg castle shortly greeted the many VIP guests with a charming speech. The
celebration was enhanced with life music by Michiel Borstlap and French songs of the
famous Dutch singer Liesbeth List who interpreted the French icon Edith Piaf. Her
beautiful dress was a creation of the Dutch couturier Ronald Kolk, also present, who
could easily compete with the best French colleagues.
In the Lodewijk zaal the main sponsor of the evening, Mark van Nieuwkerk of jeweller
Schaap & Citroen showed samples of the Reverso, the Master Compressor and the
Atoms collections of Jaeger Le Coultre watches.
The whole evening was an example of class with excellent snacks, different cru wines
and of course the new French wine by Jaap and Martijn of Kwast Wijnkopers, the
Beaujolais Primeur.
