Saint-Vincent in Maranges: This year, we celebrate Maranges, the southern gateway to the Côte de Beaune. Honest, expressive reds with a true sense of place, curated into a special Saint-Vincent Mixed Case. Order by January 25, 2026, and shipping is included.
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Every winter, as the dormant vines rest under crisp January skies, the wine region of Burgundy gets ready to celebrate one of its most cherished traditions: the Saint-Vincent Tournante wine festival. In 2026, this legendary event returns to the wine village of Maranges, with the main festivities taking place between the 24th and 25th January. It’s a moment when vignerons, locals and visitors come together to honour Saint Vincent — the patron saint of winegrowers — and to celebrate Burgundy’s wine culture.
Saint Vincent and His Legend in the World of Wine
Known originally of Vincent of Zaragoza, the story goes that he one day stopped on his way for a chat with a vineyard owner on a fine spring day. While they talked, Vincent’s donkey, who was also with them, began nibbling on a vine shoot. Later that year, that crop was found to be one of the most plentiful, and a legend began. Winter vine pruning was thus established as a vital task. But he became wine’s patron saint for perhaps another more simple reason; his name spoken in French sounds a little like vin-sang, or (“wine-blood”).
This somewhat cosy tale belies a much more turbulent life that he led, as the first Christian martyr of Spain. He was tortured for confessing his faith (on a wine press, some more imaginative accounts detail) and his body eventually thrown into the sea, only to be washed up and retrieved by his followers. Over the intervening hundreds of years, his legend grew until today he is celebrated annually at the festival which bears his name.
What Is the Saint-Vincent Tournante Wine Festival?
The Saint-Vincent Tournante Wine Festival is more than simply a wine event. It’s Burgundy’s quintessential winter fête, first held in 1938 under the auspices of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, the historic society who protect and promote the good name of Burgundy wine.
The festival today is a much-loved annual ritual that unites the whole region. Each year the celebrations are hosted by a different wine appellation, transforming its villages into stages for lively parades, tastings, music, and shared conviviality.
In 2026, the spotlight falls on the three villages which comprise the Maranges appellation — Cheilly-lès-Maranges, Dezize-lès-Maranges and Sampigny-lès-Maranges — marking its first time hosting the event since 1997 and only the second time in its history.
The Spirit of the Festival
The main events are structured around age-old rituals and see up to 60,000 people:
- Parade of Societies — Hundreds of participants march with statues of Saint Vincent and vibrant banners in a procession weaving through the three Maranges villages.
- Induction of local vignerons — Local winemakers are honoured in touching ceremonies conducted by the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.
- Caveaux de dégustation (tasting cellars) open their doors — offering wine lovers a chance to explore an impressive range of local wines right where they are made.
Maranges: An Appellation on the Up
The choice of appellation to host the festival in 2026 is no coincidence; just a few decades ago the name wasn’t really spoken of, and was considered to be ‘rustic’ and thus not on many wine buyer’s lists. Now, with new and exciting producers driving wine production, its reputation has been transformed and its star is rising.
Maranges, at the southernmost tip of the Côte de Beaune, may be lesser-known compared to neighbouring Beaune or Pommard, but it produces powerful, characterful Pinot Noirs and elegant Chardonnays. Around 90% of production is red, generally rich and fruit-driven with spicy notes, while the whites are aromatic and expressive.
After all, for many visitors, the heart of the Saint-Vincent Tournante Wine Festival is the wine tasting. The festival offers a special tasting kit — complete with a glass, tasting tickets, and map — that grants access to a selection of wines produced especially for the event, including Maranges Premier Cru reds, showing the nuanced heights this small appellation cam reach, and a special “vieux millésimes” (old vintages) caveau — perfect for enthusiasts keen to compare how age transforms these wines.
These tastings are not just about sampling wine — they’re about conversation, context, and connection with producers who know each plot, grape, and vintage intimately.
Get to Know These Maranges Producers on burgundywine.com
Here at burgundywine.com we stock some of the finest wines from the Maranges appellation and have done for some time, being one of the ‘early adopters’ of this appellation. Looking back at our harvest notes, we recall that the warm, dry conditions of 2022 resulted in near-perfect flowering. The season advanced quickly, bringing an early harvest well ahead of the usual schedule. Red wines from the 2022 vintage display great depth and ripeness, with a vibrant acidity that provides balance and structure. Right from our early tastings, we knew that 2022 would be a very promising vintage.
And so it is that we focus on the 2022 vintage here, recommending the following Maranges winemakers and their wines which we have in our cellar:
- Elodie Roy: Having witnessed Burgundy winemaking at every level, from a traditional family estate to the heights of world-class production, Elodie brings both experience and conviction to her work. Her guiding principles are respect for the soil and a firm commitment to sustainable viticulture. Like all great producers, Elodie understands that great wine begins — and ends — with great fruit. She is already emerging as a bright, compelling star in Burgundy. We recommend her Maranges ‘La Rue des Pierres’ from 2022 – velvety and supple, with a lively core of fruit, powder tannins and tangy acids.
- Domain Royet: Nestled in the heart of the Côtes du Couchois, this family estate covers 14 hectares of vineyards clinging to the steep slopes below the Château de Couches. Here, tradition meets modern winemaking, as Domaine Royet produces wines that capture the character and diversity of the unique subsoils of this overlooked corner of Burgundy. Try the Maranges 1er Cru ‘Clos Roussot’ from 2022 -the plot where this wine comes from is in the town of Cheilly-Lès-Maranges, one of the seven vineyards classified as Premier Cru.
- Domaine Regnaudot: Winemaker Bernard Regnaudot settled in Dezize-lès-Maranges in 1996, bringing with him the experience of a third-generation vigneron. Quiet and unassuming by nature, he farms just under 16 acres of vineyards alongside his son, Florian. Widely regarded as one of the driving forces — the “locomotives” — of the Maranges appellation, his work has helped shape its growing reputation. We stock his Maranges 1er Cru ‘Clos des Loyeres 2022– it’s a real classic of the appellation and showcases everything that Maranges can be. You really have to try it!
Beyond Wine: Music, Food & Burgundy Culture
Maranges has embraced a special theme for the 2026 Saint-Vincent Tournante Wine Festival: “Les Maranges en musique”. Each village will showcase its own musical flavour — from jazz in Cheilly-lès-Maranges to disco in Dezize-lès-Maranges and rock in Sampigny-lès-Maranges — with performances, street artists, and decorations evoking the joy of music in winter’s chill.
But let’s not overlook Burgundy’s famed gastronomy. At the festival you can enjoy regional specialties prepared with locally sourced ingredients, from hearty finger foods to traditional dishes that pair beautifully with local wines.
This all culminates in the Grand Banquet — a six-course culinary celebration in Beaune featuring some of Burgundy’s most revered chefs alongside carefully matched Maranges wines. It’s a gourmet spectacle that marries wine and food in an unforgettable way.
Why Burgundy Wine Lovers Should Attend
If you’re thinking of visiting but are unsure, here are a few reasons to persuade you to make the trip and experience something really special:
- Experience Burgundy’s Living Tradition
The Saint-Vincent Tournante Wine Festival isn’t a staged exhibition — it’s a living celebration of one of France’s oldest cultures. You’ll see history, ritual, and modern joyous community spirit all woven together. - Meet the Makers
There’s no substitute for tasting wine alongside the people who make it. Here, winemakers are not hidden behind tasting bars — they engage, explain, and share stories of their vineyards and winemaking philosophies. - Enjoy Burgundy at Its Warmest
Late January might seem cold, but in Burgundy it’s a time of warm hospitality, rich food, and remarkable wine — all shared with fellow travelers, locals, and seasoned Burgundy aficionados alike.
See You in 2026?
The Saint-Vincent Tournante Wine Festival in Maranges 2026 will offer an unforgettable experience. But if you can’t make it, do make sure you visit Domaine de Cromey for your wine and gastronomy vacation of a lifetime. Whether you’re a seasoned Burgundy visitor or you’re just beginning your love affair with French wine Cromey is the place to go.
So let’s raise a glass in January at the festival; at Saint-Vincent, every sip tells a story.
P.S. why not check out some other of our articles on things to do when you visit Burgundy and the day trips you can make? Follow the links to read on…