Festi Val de Mercy

Festi Val de Mercy: Music and Vineyards Under Ancient Oaks

Two hours from Paris, in the heart of the wine village of Val de Mercy in the Yonne department, Festi Val de Mercy was born from the desire to bring music to life in an exceptional natural setting: the park of the Château du Val de Mercy. Over three consecutive evenings, the festival brings together music from different horizons—jazz, choral singing, and chamber music—in front of the castle's classical facade, in a typically Burgundian intimate and bucolic atmosphere.

The idea is as simple as it is appealing: the stage is set up in front of the castle, and the audience settles on the park's grass, surrounded by ancient oak trees whose foliage forms a natural amphitheater with remarkable acoustics. The estate's owner, who also produces Chablis and Coulanges wines, welcomes spectators after each concert with a tasting of his best vintages—a unique way to combine music and Burgundian gastronomy.

A Castle Steeped in History in the Heart of Auxerrois

The Château du Val de Mercy is inseparable from the wine-growing and aristocratic history of this region. Old manuscripts attest that as early as 1680, the castle park was covered with vines. Acquired in the early 18th century by Jean Contaud, a royal officer in Languedoc, the estate was profoundly remodeled between 1783 and 1793 under the direction of Jean François de Contaud, who built the elegant main residence we admire today. The property then passed through the hands of the d'Aleyrac and Chambaudoin d'Erceville families before being repurchased in 1975 and reoriented towards viticulture from 1992 onwards.

Today, the estate covers 30 hectares of vines spread between Chablisien (22 ha) and Auxerrois (8 ha), producing prestigious appellations: Chablis Premier Cru, Chablis, Bourgogne Chitry, Bourgogne Coulanges, Saint-Bris, Crémant de Bourgogne, and, since the acquisition of plots in the Côte de Beaune, Pommard and Volnay. It is in this exceptional setting, where vines and stone have complemented each other for over three centuries, that the festival has chosen to flourish.

A Three-Part Program, Three Universes

The philosophy of Festi Val de Mercy is based on musical diversity. Each edition features three concerts on three consecutive evenings, each showcasing a distinct sound universe.

Jazz and Java: Opening with Swing

The first evening is traditionally dedicated to jazz. Aurore Voilqué and her Aurorequartet—or Aurorequartet, depending on the edition—kick off the festivities with their emblematic program "Le jazz et la java". A talented violinist, trained in the footsteps of Stéphane Grappelli and Didier Lockwood, Aurore Voilqué is also the regular musical partner of Thomas Dutronc, whose tours she accompanies. Accompanied by six to seven musicians, she sweeps the audience into a whirlwind of manouche jazz, java, and swing, where violin notes dialogue with guitar, double bass, and accordion.

Choral Voices: A Timeless Evening

The second evening is entrusted to a vocal ensemble. The Ukrainian choral ensemble Brevis performed at the early editions, offering a journey through traditional Orthodox music, Russian classical songs, and contemporary a cappella pieces, performed in period costumes. The purity of their voices, resonating under the ancient oaks and before the golden stones of the castle, creates a moment of rare intensity.

Chamber Orchestra: Great Music in the Open Air

The third and final evening highlights chamber music. Les Solistes Français, an orchestra led by conductor Paul Rouger, takes the stage with thirty-five to forty musicians for a program of great repertoire masterpieces: Vivaldi, Albinoni, Mozart—Concerto for Violin and Symphony No. 40—have been featured in past editions. Known for the infectious joy of its performers and the quality of its direction, the ensemble transforms the castle park into an open-air concert hall.

Val de Mercy, a Discreet and Charming Wine Village

Val de Mercy is a commune in the Yonne department with approximately 373 inhabitants, nestled in the natural region of Forterre, between Auxerre (about twenty kilometers to the northeast) and Coulanges-la-Vineuse. With a modest altitude of 145 meters and a limestone terroir conducive to vine cultivation, the village belongs to the group of communes that, from Chablis to Coulanges, make up the Auxerrois vineyard. The setting is rural, preserved, far from the hustle and bustle of large cities—exactly what the festival seeks to cultivate.

Festi Val de Mercy is part of a Burgundian cultural tradition that combines the art of living, terroir, and artistic creation. It echoes other similar initiatives throughout the Burgundy vineyards that invite classical music and jazz to dialogue with cellars, vines, and castles.

A Moment of Sharing and Conviviality

Beyond the concerts themselves, what sets Festi Val de Mercy apart is the atmosphere that prevails. The number of spectators per evening is deliberately limited, ensuring real proximity between artists and the public. Children are welcome (free entry for under-fifteens), and the evening naturally extends after each concert, with a glass of Chablis or Coulanges offered by the estate's owner. It is this combination—artistic excellence, exceptional heritage setting, and Burgundian generosity—that builds loyalty among an audience from all over the region and sometimes much further afield.