Fête des Vendanges de Joigny

The Fête des Vendanges de Joigny, thirty years of tradition in the heart of the Yonne

The Fête des Vendanges de Joigny is one of the most authentic oenological events in the Yonne. Born in the early 1990s on the initiative of the association Tourisme Terroir & Développement, in partnership with the municipality of Joigny and the Jovinien Tourist Office, this annual event brings together producers and enthusiasts every third Sunday in October under the roof of the Marché Couvert, on the banks of the Yonne. Since its 30th edition celebrated in October 2019, it has established itself as the festive emblem of a revived vineyard, proud of its ancient history and exceptional grape varieties.

The setting is striking: Joigny, a medieval town with half-timbered houses perched on the slopes of the Yonne, is home to one of the oldest and northernmost vineyards in Burgundy. The first written record of vines in Joigny dates back to 1082. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the vineyard covered 700 hectares and its wines reached Paris by river. The phylloxera crisis of 1883, combined with the gradual disappearance of river transport, reduced this heritage significantly. The revival began in the 1930s, accelerated in the 1970s, and led to the obtention of the AOC Bourgogne in 1975, followed by the mention Côte Saint-Jacques in 1996. Today, five estates cultivate about 55 hectares and produce around 100,000 bottles per year.

The grey wine, Joigny's historic jewel

The Fête des Vendanges is above all the celebration of grey wine, the absolute specialty of the Jovinien vineyard. Made from Pinot gris, this wine with its 'partridge eye' color — between pale gold and salmon pink — has been the pride of the Côte Saint-Jacques cellars for centuries. Its fame extends far beyond the borders of the Yonne: in 1704, Louis XIV himself introduced Joigny's grey wine to the court of Versailles, definitively consecrating its prestige. Sweet on the palate, marked by aromas of redcurrant, peach, and citrus, with a fine and refreshing acidity, it embodies the uniqueness of this terroir better than any other.

The grape varieties cultivated on the Côte Saint-Jacques reflect this multiple identity: Pinot gris for the legendary grey wine, Pinot noir for elegant reds with notes of red fruits, Chardonnay for mineral and crisp whites, and Pinot blanc as a supplement. All on slopes exposed south/south-east, at altitudes between 135 and 210 meters, protected from northern winds by the Othe forest plateau, and benefiting from the thermal microclimate induced by the Yonne river — which mitigates frost risks on the lower plots. The soil, clay with flint on soft Turonian chalk, is unique in the Burgundian wine landscape.

The festival program: a day of discovery and conviviality

The day revolves around a tasting and direct sales area, set up under the Marché Couvert de Joigny, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The Jovinien estates — Domaine Croix Saint-Jacques, Domaine Alain Vignot, Domaine Christophe Lepage, Domaine Calmus, Domaine Cyril Houzé — present their entire ranges in bottles and offer free tastings and purchases at estate prices. Alongside the wine stands, local producers from the Yonne and Jovinien regions exhibit cheeses, charcuterie, jams, honey, artisanal bread, and other regional specialties, making the festival a true gourmet market.

Animations are regularly offered throughout the editions: sensory discovery workshops, guided food and wine pairings, tasting initiations, presentations of vineyard work according to the annual wine cycle. The educational and family-friendly dimension is carefully preserved, allowing both novices and experienced amateurs to leave with a better understanding of the Jovinien vineyard. Children are not forgotten: adapted activities make the day accessible to the whole family.

The Marché Couvert provides a magnificent architectural setting for the event. Nestled below the old town, a stone's throw from the banks of the Yonne, it recalls that it was by this same river that Joigny wine once traveled, from the Jovinien city to the quays of Paris. The day often concludes with a stroll through the medieval streets of Joigny, listed among the most beautiful towns in the Yonne, with its Renaissance private mansions and its half-timbered houses in autumn colors.

The Côte Saint-Jacques: the northernmost vineyard in Burgundy

The mention Bourgogne Côte Saint-Jacques is one of the most recent and confidential in Burgundy. Authorized by decree since 1996, it applies only to a handful of plots located in the commune of Joigny and the neighboring communes of Champlay and Volgré. Production is limited to a few tens of thousands of bottles annually, making it one of the rarest appellations in the Burgundian vineyard. For enthusiasts, acquiring a Bourgogne Côte Saint-Jacques is a real find, and the Fête des Vendanges is the ideal opportunity to stock up directly from the winegrowers.

The territory on which this vineyard extends is also steeped in Compostelan history: the Côte Saint-Jacques owes its name to the pilgrimage route that crossed Joigny towards Santiago de Compostela, precisely following these sun-drenched slopes. A name that blends spirituality, journey, and vine in a single geographical identity.

Why come to the Fête des Vendanges de Joigny?

The Fête des Vendanges de Joigny is not a mass festival. It is a human-scale event, driven by a handful of passionate winegrowers and a local community attached to its heritage. This is precisely what makes it valuable: here, you can discuss at length with the winegrower who personally cultivated the vines and produced the wine you are tasting. You can understand the difference between a warm and a cool vintage on the slopes of the Côte Saint-Jacques. You can leave with bottles unobtainable in supermarkets, some of which will one day feature on the best tables in the region.

Joigny itself is worth a visit: 160 kilometers from Paris, easily accessible by the A6 motorway or by train from Paris-Bercy, this city of art and history holds exceptional heritage — the half-timbered houses of rue Gabriel-Cornu, the Saint-Jean church, the remains of the castle of the Counts of Joigny, and of course the wine-growing hillsides that can be explored on foot along marked trails with a plunging view of the Yonne valley. In October, the vines are adorned with red and gold: a spectacle that alone is worth the trip.