Wine festivals are more than just celebrations for sommeliers, wine directors, and industry professionals; they provide great chances for education, networking, and improving one's awareness of a region's wines. La Paulée Burgundy Festival, La Fête du Champagne, and the newly established Convivio del Vino bring together renowned winemakers, legendary domaines, and enthusiastic professionals for an immersive experience that includes tastings, workshops, and gala dinners. Max Goldberg Liu, Director of Communications, talks to the Sommelier Business about the history of these festivals, their significance in growing sommelier careers, and why attending such events is critical for those wishing to hone their skills and broaden their professional network.

Also read: The Best Wine Festivals of 2025: Unmissable Events for Industry Experts

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What inspired the creation of La Paulée Burgundy Festival, La Fête du Champagne, and now Convivio del Vino?

Our founder, Daniel Johnnes, began traveling to Burgundy in the 1980s while serving as the wine director at the groundbreaking restaurant Montrachet in Tribeca. During his visits, he formed close friendships with many Burgundian winemakers and started attending La Paulée de Meursault, an annual wine luncheon that became an official event in Meursault in the 1930s. A defining feature of La Paulée de Meursault is its spirit of generosity—everyone brings wine to share. Our Paulée events pay homage to the original, with the official blessing of its organizers, aiming to bring the Burgundian tradition of conviviality to passionate Burgundy lovers worldwide. In 2014, we launched La Fête du Champagne in partnership with Champagne expert Peter Liem, and now, Convivio del Vino with Jeff Porter. Both festivals share the same mission: to celebrate the essence of a wine region—Champagne in the case of La Fête du Champagne, and all of Italy for Convivio del Vino.

How do these festivals cater specifically to sommeliers and wine professionals?

We collaborate with a large team of sommeliers who play a key role in our festivals in two main capacities. They partner with winemakers during the daytime walk-around tastings, enabling them to showcase the wines side by side and interact directly with the attendees. During the gala dinners, they oversee a complex wine service, guaranteeing the precise and careful serving of each guest's bottles.

In your view, why is it important for sommeliers to attend wine festivals like yours?

Our festivals provide a valuable educational experience for sommeliers by offering direct, face-to-face interactions with winemakers and the opportunity to taste a wide range of wines in a single setting. This is especially significant for Burgundy, which has become increasingly difficult to access. For sommeliers who may rarely have the chance to taste these wines, this experience is truly invaluable.

Also read: Mastering the Art of Wine Flights: A Guide to Curating Engaging Tasting Experiences

What opportunities do these festivals provide for sommeliers to engage directly with winemakers and producers?

Our tastings typically last three hours, during which sommeliers work a 90-minute shift alongside a winemaker at their table. For the remaining time, they are free to walk around, taste wines, and engage directly with producers. Additionally, they have opportunities to interact with winemakers during the Gala Dinners and at after parties, further deepening their connections within the industry.

Can you share examples of how sommeliers have benefited professionally from attending your festivals?

Over the years, we’ve received extensive feedback from participating sommeliers about how enriching the festival experience is—not just in terms of exposure to wines and winemakers, but also through the opportunity to connect with the broader sommelier community. Our events foster a culture of mentorship and training, particularly in the wine room at the Gala Dinner, which we are committed to nurturing. In addition, we founded the Sommelier Scholarship Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides annual immersive, all-expenses-paid trips to wine regions for small groups of sommeliers, further supporting their professional growth.

Image: La Paulée Burgundy Festival

Are there specific sessions, tastings, or events within the festivals that sommeliers shouldn’t miss?

Each festival's two main events, the Grand Tasting and the Gala Dinner, take place on Saturday and are definitely not to miss. The Grand Tasting is a walk-around event focused on current vintages, offering an educational experience with direct exposure to wines and winemakers. The Gala Dinner, on the other hand, is a lively celebration that captures the convivial spirit of wine, bringing together industry professionals and enthusiasts in a festive setting. These events serve as the central focus of our festivals.

How do your festivals foster connections between sommeliers, producers, and other industry professionals?

Our winemakers recognize the festivals as a valuable opportunity to connect with sommeliers—the ultimate ambassadors for their wines—before they reach consumers. For sommeliers, the chance to spend 90 minutes pouring alongside renowned figures like Jean-Marc Roulot or Olivier Krug allows for meaningful connections, even within a short timeframe. These interactions help foster relationships that can have a lasting impact on their careers and the industry as a whole.

Are there any success stories of collaborations or career advancements that began at your events?

Our festivals provide an excellent networking environment for sommeliers, often leading to valuable career opportunities. Many professionals have forged connections at our events that later translated into job offers. The fast-paced, high-energy atmosphere of the wine room at the Gala Dinner, in particular, allows those in hiring positions to observe a sommelier’s professionalism and skills in action, making it a fantastic platform for career advancement.

What steps do you take to ensure access to rare or exclusive wines at the festivals?

Each festival offers a select number of spots for sommeliers to work at intimate pre-festival dinners with esteemed producers like Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Louis Roederer. These exclusive events showcase exceptionally rare wines and sommeliers who pour at them have the opportunity to taste as well. Additionally, those who have worked at our Gala Dinners often say they’ve never experienced such an extensive selection of fine and rare wines in a single night—albeit in small pours.

How do you curate educational components, such as masterclasses or panel discussions, to add value for sommeliers?

We consistently offer complimentary seminars for our sommelier team, featuring one or more attending producers. These sessions provide valuable educational opportunities, such as a guided tasting of the 2019 vintage with Antoine and Quentin Paillard (Champagne Pierre Paillard) or an in-depth seminar on Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts with Jeremy Seysses (Domaine Dujac) and Etienne de Montille. By curating these experiences, we ensure sommeliers gain deeper insights into the wines and regions they are working with.

Image: Sommeliers taste-testing wine at La Paulée Burgundy Festival

What can attendees expect from Convivio del Vino that’s different from your previous festivals?

Convivio del Vino stands apart from our previous festivals by showcasing the incredible diversity of Italian wines. Unlike La Paulée, which focuses on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and some Aligoté, or La Fête du Champagne, which highlights primarily Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier, Convivio will feature wines from across Italy’s many regions. With hundreds of native grape varieties to explore, we anticipate presenting as many as 30 different varieties, offering attendees a truly unique and expansive tasting experience.

How do you plan to integrate Convivio del Vino into your existing lineup while maintaining its unique identity?

We are fully embracing Italian culture for Convivio del Vino, which marks a distinct shift from our traditionally Francophile approach. This festival will celebrate Italy’s rich wine heritage, regional diversity, and convivial spirit, ensuring it stands apart while seamlessly integrating into our lineup.

How do you see wine festivals evolving over the next few years, particularly in engaging sommeliers?

Since the post-pandemic recovery, we’ve seen a strong demand from highly qualified and enthusiastic sommeliers eager to participate in our festivals. As a result, we’ve had to become more selective, balancing the inclusion of new faces with experienced veterans who uphold our high service standards while mentoring newcomers. Additionally, we remain committed to fostering diversity within our sommelier team. Through direct outreach, networking, and our partnership with The Roots Fund, we actively work to bring more diverse voices and perspectives to our festivals.

What are your long-term goals for these festivals in terms of their impact on the wine industry?

We strongly believe in the value of the sommelier profession and hope that our festivals serve as a source of inspiration for sommeliers to advance in their careers. By providing enriching experiences, meaningful connections, and exposure to exceptional wines, we aim to empower sommeliers to share their passion and knowledge, ultimately enhancing the wine industry as a whole.

If you could give one piece of advice to sommeliers attending for the first time, what would it be?

Spit—and ask plenty of questions! Engaging with winemakers and industry professionals is the best way to maximize your experience and deepen your understanding of the wines.

Is there anything exciting or unexpected planned for this year’s editions that you’d like to share?

While the wine is always the star of the show, we have a few surprises in store for La Paulée’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Plus, we’re excited to fully embrace the Italian theme at Convivio del Vino, ensuring a vibrant and memorable experience.

Header image sourced from Max Goldberg Liu

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