History

Created in 1967 by wine merchants in Normandy (of whom there were many at the time), the vocation of the "Confrérie" was to further the knowledge and appreciation as well as the promotion of good wine. Its ceremonial, customs and language, the titles borne by its administrators and the distinctions granted to the newly inducted members were inspired by the tradition of the old "mediaeval corporations". Over the years, changes in the market structures have brought a rapid disappearance of wine merchants.

The Confrérie Today

Imperceptibly, the principles of the "Confrérie", while still remaining attached to the promotion of wine, have evolved towards creating bonds of friendship amongst its members. The "Confrérie" held its first Chapter on January 20, 1968 in Rouen, at "La Couronne" , France's oldest inn which has been in continual service since 1345. In the same year, the "Confrérie" inaugurated its "cave" in Croisset, where new Companions have since been inducted. Since its creation, the "Confrérie" has organised over fifty Chapters and inducted more than one thousand, three hundred Companions.

Great Britain and Scotland

From the earliest Chapters, some British friends became regular and faithful Companions of our gatherings, and so the idea of creating an Embassy in London was raised very quickly. The first London Chapitre was held in November 1971 at the "Royal Garden Hotel" and was followed by seventeen other Chapitres, with the induction of about three hundred members on this side of the Channel.

Goustevin Scotland was first established as a Consulate of the Confrérie in May of 1977 by The Grand Conseil Magistral from Normandie. Originally this Consulate was to be an offshoot of the Embassy in London and was created in homage to Nicol and Beverley Manson who had for many years been faithfully attending the Chapitres in Rouen as well as those organised in London.

A strong bond of friendship had grown between Nicol and Beverley and the then Grand Connétable, Pierre Juban, and his wife Aline, and also with Michel and Denise Goulon. The Inverness Consulate duly went on to organise Chapitres in May of 1977 in Inverness and again in Aviemore in June of 1989.

The Inauguration of the Inverness Embassy

After eighteen years of exemplary service, the last ever Chapitre in London took place in 1988, bringing to an end the presence of an Embassy of the Confrérie within the U.K.

The Confrérie had by then been pressing Nicol for a long time to set up an Embassy in Inverness. Manuel Chanavaz, the then Grand Maître des Ambassades journeyed to Inverness to meet Nicol with his friends and succeeded in convincing them to take this bold step forward.

The inauguration Chapitre took place on Saturday 6th October 2001 in the grand Town Hall of Inverness, followed by the Gala dinner at the Newton Hotel in nearby Nairn, and so Goustevin Scotland joined the noble ranks of International Embassies of the Confrérie des Compagnons Goustevin de Normandie. Since then Goustevin Scotland has gone from strength to strength and remains active with regular tasting events every year and Chapitres usually bi-annually in Inverness.

Other Embassies

In 1992 two Embassies were inaugurated in the United States, one in New York and the other in Indianapolis. In February 1997, the Embassy in Johannesburg was created and in August of that year a new Embassy was also created in San Francisco. In September of 2003 a Consulate of our Confrérie was established in Salerno, Italy. Encouraged by the enthusiasm of our Italian friends, led by Mauro Scarlato, the Italian Embassy was inaugurated in May of 2004. During the same period, links and friendships had been created with fellow enthusiasts in Germany and in 2008, a German Embassy was created in Zeltingen-Rachtig in the Mosel.

Historical Footnote

Until the 13th Century, poisoning was almost an occupational hazard of royalty and their guests. At this time, the first wine knighthoods were established by royal decree. They were known as the “Conseil des Echansons”, a Council of Master Cup-Bearers. The first wine knights grew the vines, made the wines, and tasted the wines, guaranteeing their purity for the royalty. Thus the wines they served became known as noble wines. Out of this beginning evolved the etiquette of the table, the marriage of wine with food, and, even to this day, the tasting of wine at the table before serving guests.

Wine knighthood in France ended with the French revolution. The effect of this disaster was as severe as that felt by the American vineyards during the prohibition. By 1855 France realised the need for good and great wines and began the process of classification of growths, re-establishing the nobility of wine stocks. In the years that followed, the “Appellation contrôlée” was established to warrant the quality of wines and a decree was passed to regulate the associations formed to promote and enjoy French wines, bringing about the re-establishment of wine knighthoods.

One of the first orders established was the “Ordre Universel des Chevaliers du Cep” – the universal order of knights of the vine. Other brotherhoods of wine were formed to promote wines of their region as well as wines from around the world. The “Confrérie des Compagnons Goustevin de Normandie”, or the Norman brotherhood of wine-tasting companions, was formed in 1967 by wine merchants in Normandy to further the knowledge and appreciation of good wine. Not being established within the heart of a wine-growing region, it did not depend on any commercial structure related to a particular vineyard. It has retained total freedom of choice of the wines it wishes to promote and remains independent in expressing its opinion on these wines.