A festive banquet to celebrate the end of the grape harvest, a paulée has become an unmissable event for wine lovers with some of the most famous ones taking place in Meursault, Anjou, and New York.
The last shovel of grapes poured into the press is the perfect excuse for a celebratory meal
If you’re a wine lover, you may have heard this word before. The name is believed to derive from the patois word paule meaning shovel. Traditionally, at the end of the harvest – when the last shovel is poured into the press – the owner invites all the staff to a celebratory meal.
Over time, it’s evolved into a festive, friendly meal where each guest brings a bottle from their cellar to share with others.
Similar terms exist, like peulée in Chablis, where the famous shovel is called pêlée or poëlée.
The origins and influence of the Paulée de Meursault
The Paulée de Meursault is the original and best known of all the paulées, and one that iDealwine has attended on many occasions!
This event was first held in 1932 by a certain Comte Jules Lafon if that rings any bells for you. At the time, Burgundy faced a major economic crisis following the Wall Street stock market crash of October 1929. A series of initiatives emerged in the heart of the region, all based on the same idea: ‘since the wines aren’t selling, let’s drink them and invite our friends to share them with us’. Comte Lafon, mayor of Meursault at the time, extended this end-of-harvest meal to the village, inviting all the winegrowers and their employees to enjoy fine bottles in good company. So far – and this is still the case, as anyone who has been involved in the harvest will know – the paulée is exclusively celebrated on each estate.
Today, the Paulée de Meursault still takes place after the harvest and vinification, marking the end of the famous Trois Glorieuses. Named after the revolutionary events of 1830, this is the biggest celebration in the Burgundian calendar, held on the third weekend of November and featuring three major events. It takes place at midday on Monday, after the première glorieuse (the chapter at Clos de Vougeot) and the deuxième glorieuse (the charity auction at the Hospices de Beaune).
The dinner is hosted in the old winery of the Château de Meursault, which dates back to the 11th century (except in recent years as it is undergoing renovation). The hall covering 500 m2, still equipped with its old wooden vats, seats 700 guests for a banquet. The gastronomic dishes are briskly served by waiters who glide among the tables and diners, at times taking their seats, at others standing and serving a bottle to their neighbours or conversing about a ’famous past tasting’. It seems that, in addition to being true gourmets who love discussing other famous recipes while at the table, Burgundians can’t help but reminisce about past tastings as they savour each sip of wine. Spirited and poetic speeches, a guest of honour with a love for both wine and literature, bursts of the ban bourguignon (lively French melody often presented as Burgundy’s anthem), and songs from Les Joyeux Bourguignons ringing around…
Given its success, this prestigious dinner was easily recreated elsewhere…
The most renowned paulées
There are other paulées in Burgundy, such as the Paulée de la Côte Chalonnaise, the Peulée de Chablis and so one.
And throughout France – there are paulées in the Loire Valley, Anjou, Alsace and plenty more.
This beloved tradition has even travelled around the world, with paulées in New York and San Francisco, officially recognised by the Paulée de Meursault.
Join the Paulée d’Alsace with iDealwine
Got a taste for wine? Great, since iDealwine has just the ticket for you to take part in a paulée!
Come and admire the autumnal colours of Alsace and celebrate the wines of this diverse wine region. Will you join us in celebrating Widderkümme with the famous winemakers that make up the association Alsace Crus et Terroirs (ACT)*?
This grand banquet dinner marks the end of the harvest and is probably the classiest BYOB event you’ll ever have the chance to attend. It takes place on Friday 8 November 2024 in Wettolsheim, France. We are absolutely thrilled to be able to share this exclusive event with you.
- When? 08/11/2024
- Where? Wettolsheim, Colmar, France at the Hôtel Spa Au Soleil 3***
- What’s the programme?
- Friday: Visit to Domaine Barmès-Buecher followed by the paulée dinner (everyone brings a bottle of Alsace wine to share with their neighbours).
- Saturday: Breakfast with members of the iDealwine team (Angélique de Lencquesaing and Eloïse Rusier).
- How much does it cost? €330 for 2 places (the price is based on sharing a double room. It covers the organisation of the event, a night’s stay in the hotel with breakfast, the winery visit and tickets to the Widderkümme dinner.)
*ACT brings together the estates of armès-Buecher, Bott-Geyl, Albert Boxler, Dirler-Cadé, Paul Ginglinger, Kientzler, Etienne Loew, Albert Mann, Meyer-Fonné, Frédéric Mochel, Clos Saint Landelin-V&T Muré, Kirrenbourg, Mélanie Pfister, Schlumberger, Schoffit, Trapet-Alsace Trimbach, Zind-Humbrecht and Valentin Zusslin.
