News from the Vineyard

La Paulée de Meursault 2020, cancelled

Daniel, during La Paulée de Meursault in November 2018. Besides the multiple “Bans Bourguignons”, the unofficial and jovial Burgundy anthem, La Paulée lights up when guests start spinning their napkins over their head.

The following article was translated from Le Bien Public’s original article available here.

The president of La Paulée de Meursault, Philippe Ballot, has finally surrendered to the health crisis. The event, initially planned on November 16th with a limited attendance, has been cancelled. “It was not an easy decision, explains Philippe. After a recent meeting with the authorities during which the latest restrictions were discussed, we realized it was too complicated ” reported the event organizer, who had expected 250 people for November 16th. Held in the old cellar of the Château de Meursault, this feast normally hosts close to 700 guests each year and traditionally awards an author the literary award “Prix de la Paulée”.

The measure to limit the number of people per table to six was the final nail in the coffin, and what prompted the cancellation of La Paulée. According to the seating chart, “we would have had to turn away sixty guests! And we just couldn’t come up with fair criteria on who not to invite” explains Philippe Ballot, who also pointed out: “It’s not impossible that these restrictions might become even more drastic, leading to the day of La Paulée. Therefore we decided to cancel the event altogether, early enough so people could get organized.”

The napkins won’t be spinning this year.

Le Ban Bourguignon