Les Trois Glorieuses doesn’t just refer to the second French Revolution, it’s also the name of an entirely different, much more cheerful event: a beloved, three-day wine festival in Beaune. As the wine capital of Burgundy, Beaune is a town where the quintessential rural atmosphere of the past envelops the present. Found in a region lush with Côte d’Or vineyards, Beaune’s cobbled streets, wine cellars, and Gothic splendors come to life every year during Les Trois Glorieuses.

Dating back to 1859, Les Trois Glorieuses takes place annually in the third weekend of November. A celebration of the food, wine, and traditions of Burgundy, the weekend’s highlights include the Hospices de Beaune wine auction, a black-tie dinner at the Château du Clos du Vougeot, and the closing feast La Paulée de Meursault.

The Hospices de Beaune wine auction is a philanthropic event where one can purchase wines produced from the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune. This impressive collection of vineyards, consisting of around 60 hectares, belongs to the eponymous hospital foundation. The Hospices de Beaune was able to amass such a large wine estate in part thanks to donations from patients over the years. Taking place in the Halles de Beaune, this auction raises money to help fund local medical services and conserve the historical monument that is the hospital itself.

The wines up for auction include 50 different cuvées, with 33 red varieties and 17 white varieties. Sold in pièces, or barrels, the wine is auctioned as vins primeurs, taking 12 to 18 months to be aged after purchase. The auction comes to a crescendo with the Pièce du Président. The funds raised from this barrel go to a specific charity chosen by the Hospices de Beaune, but that’s not all that makes it special. The tension in the air is palpable as this is the one event in which the auctioning time is determined by the time it takes for a candle flame to burn out.  Recalling auction traditions of days past, spectators await this moment with bated breath.

Saturday night, before the anticipated day of the auction, there is an exclusive dinner held at the Château du Clos du Vougeot. Constructed in the 16^th century, the château stands to this day in a wine estate built by monks earlier in the 12^th century. Within the château, there lie intricately carved wooden interiors, lancet windows that reach for the sky, and the wine presses, cellars, and vats used in medieval times. This well-preserved monument invokes a hallowed sense of the traditions of Burgundy.

All of this makes the château the perfect setting for the chapter assembly and subsequent dinner held by the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. This is a legendary brotherhood of Burgundy wine connoisseurs who organize the black-tie dinner in advance of the auction. The dinner acts as a demonstration of hospitality and shared love for the region’s rich history and continued excellence in wine-making.

Rounding out the trio of main events, there is another meal to look forward to on the day after the auction: La Paulée de Meursault. Originating as an annual lunch to mark the end of the harvest, La Paulée as it looks today has its roots in a humble gathering in Burgundy by Cistern monks who celebrated the season with those who worked in the vineyards.

The occasion has grown remarkably in scale and significance over the years and yet a sense of the intimate warmth from its beginnings persists. Musicians play traditional music of the region as attendees enjoy their meal and a mainstay of the proceedings is that each attendee brings wine to share with their companions. Like a gesture of goodwill when visiting friends for dinner, this practice brings a feeling of closeness to the grand, international feast. Inspired by this event, there is also La Paulée USA, a celebration that aims to carry on the appreciation of wine-making culture that La Paulée de Meursault embodies.

Beyond these three events, the town of Beaune itself becomes a colourful carnival during Les Trois Glorieuses. There are wine tastings and vineyard tours in abundance, boasting not only the wine of the region but also highlighting local cheese, foie gras, and oysters as mouthwatering accompaniments. A collection of these culinary delights can also be found side-by-side with local crafts at the stalls of Place Carnot. The streets clamor with joyful sounds as folk parades with marching bands make their way around town. There’s even a half-marathon for those athletically inclined – or those happy to cheer the runners on.

Among events like the Bordeaux Wine Festival and Fete Des Vendanges that call aficionados from all over the world to France, Les Trois Glorieuses holds its own as a lively, multi-day festival. It upholds traditions of centuries past, such as the Hospices de Beaune wine auction, banquet at the Château du Clos du Vougeot, and La Paulée de Meursault, cultivating an appreciation for wine that is integral to the Burgundian identity. For those seeking to experience a unique blend of elegance and community warmth in celebrating their passion for wine, the town of Beaune hits exactly the right note.