Chai Mon Vigneron – Le Primeur de Gaillac

Chai Mon Vigneron – The grand celebration of Gaillac Primeur

Every third Thursday of November, a well-established tradition awakens in the Gaillac vineyard: the release of Gaillac Primeur, the only primeur wine with a protected designation of origin (AOC) in the entire Southwest of France. To celebrate this event, winemakers and wine lovers gather for Chai Mon Vigneron, four days of festivities that transform the Tarn vineyard into a huge convivial table.

Gaillac Primeur, an exceptional wine

Gaillac Primeur is a young and fruity wine, mainly from the Gamay grape variety for reds and indigenous grape varieties such as Mauzac, Loin de l'Œil, and Len de l'El for whites. Unlike other French primeur wines, its production is governed by strict AOC specifications, guaranteeing the quality and typicality of the Gaillac terroir.

Its market release, on the third Thursday of November, is an occasion for festive rituals inherited from a long tradition: cellars open, winemakers welcome their loyal customers and new curious visitors, and tastings of the "new wine" follow one another in a warm and festive atmosphere.

A rich four-day program

Chai Mon Vigneron offers an average of forty events spread over four days (Thursday to Sunday), hosted by over 30 wine estates scattered throughout the appellation, from the villages of Gaillac and Lisle-sur-Tarn to Castelnau-de-Montmiral and Cahuzac-sur-Vère.

Cellar visits and tastings

Each participating estate offers guided tours of its facilities and tastings of the newly bottled primeur wines. It's an opportunity to discover the diversity of the Gaillac vineyard, one of the oldest in France, with its unique indigenous grape varieties and original winemaking methods such as the ancestral method for sparkling wines.

Gourmet markets and gastronomy

The gourmet market is one of the highlights of the event. Local producers and food artisans offer their specialties: pink garlic from Lautrec, Tarn charcuterie, regional cheeses, honeys, jams, and other local products. Gastronomic events punctuate the program: pink garlic soup, grilled meats on vine shoot embers, spit-roasted pig, grilled chestnuts, roasted autumn vegetables.

Discoveries of the wine ecosystem

An original educational dimension distinguishes Chai Mon Vigneron from simple wine festivals: guided tours of companies in the wine ecosystem (cooperage, cork making, glassmaking, label design studio) allow visitors to understand the industry in all its complexity, from the vine to the market.

Hikes and walks in the vineyard

Walking and cycling routes are offered to discover the landscapes of the Gaillac vineyard in autumn, its golden colors, and its views of the Tarn River and the surrounding hills. Some routes include tasting stops at the winemakers' estates.

Concerts and musical entertainment

Each evening, the estates and festive sites host concerts and musical entertainment to extend the conviviality of the tastings in a festive atmosphere.

Over 20,000 visitors each year

Chai Mon Vigneron attracts over 20,000 wine and gastronomy enthusiasts each year, from all over Occitanie and France, to experience the birth of the primeur vintage in advance. The event has become a must-attend gathering for lovers of Southwest wines and a moment of collective pride for the Gaillac vineyard.