The auction event of the season has returned yet again to the delight of oenophiles and Burgundy connoisseurs everywhere! If you’re a seasoned La Paulée veteran, then that’s all you needed to hear; head over to the sale and start bidding. If this is your first La Paulée, then please allow us to introduce you to the premier auction and event of the year!
Historically, La Paulée is a traditional Burgundian celebration held at the end of the harvest season in November. This practice can trace its roots all the way back the middle ages where it was once a widespread practice throughout France. At that time, the Cistercian monks invited their vineyard laborers to dine and celebrate the end of the harvest with them. Nowadays, La Paulée most commonly refers to the modern festivities held in Meursault that were revived by Jules Lafon. In 1923, Lafon was one of Burgundy’s most respected wine growers and held this first modern version of the celebration at his Meursault domaine. Back then, the event consisted only of a small banquet in the vat-room with his guests.
La Paulée Mondiale 10th to 21st March 2021
Over time, the banquet became an officially established, annual cultural event as more and more neighboring viticulturists joined the festivities. As such, La Paulée has evolved from the original, modest communal banquet held in Lafon’s vat room; today, the official La Paulée de Meursault is attended by Meursault growers and producers alike along with several other wine connoisseurs and professionals, and the most sought after ticket of the famous and grand three-day Burgundy weekend, that culminates in the Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction.
La Paulée as we know and love, and celebrate every year in March, has taken place in New York, San Francisco, and Aspen, Colorado and captures the spirit of the Burgundian tradition through a fantastic program of events revolving around the wonderful wines of the region.
This year, for obvious reasons, La Paulée has gone virtual! La Paulée Mondiale will take place from March 10th to 21st, and offers a rich itinerary of online events diligently produced by the award-winning sommelier Daniel Johnnes (who originally brought the celebration stateside back in 2000) and the La Paulée team. Highlights include: online seminars exploring specific Burgundy vineyards sites with both winemakers and geologists, winemaker interviews, exclusive content directly from the fine winemakers of Burgundy, and a self-guided Grand Tasting! Of particular note is the panel on March 10th presented by La Paulée & Zachys: “Wine Auctions: Tips on Bidding, Buying, Consigning, and Avoiding Pitfalls”; anybody new to the auction portion of La Paulée will want to check this one out!
So quit your lollygagging; you don’t want to miss out! Head over to the sale page and explore what’s available (it’s all good). Also be sure to also check out La Paulée for the full scoop on all the online festivities going on this year! And, as always, tune back into the blog for all things Zachys Wine Auctions.
