Wine and Cheese Fair of Neuilly

The celebration of Burgundy's terroir on Assumption Day

August 15th is, in the villages of the Yonne, much more than just a public holiday: for generations, it has been the unmissable event for local fairs and festivals. In Neuilly, a delegated commune of Valravillon in the Aillantais region, this tradition continues every year with the Wine and Cheese Fair, a popular and friendly event that brings together the entire village and visitors from neighboring communes around the gastronomic riches of Burgundy.

Organized by the Comité des Fêtes de Neuilly (Neuilly Festival Committee), the event takes over the village streets — Rue des Promenades, Rue du Parc, and Route de Villemer — from early morning, with the setup of the large flea market which opens its doors at 7 AM. From 10 AM, the gastronomic fair itself begins: about fifteen carefully selected exhibitors offer the best wines and cheeses from Burgundy and surrounding regions, in a festive and relaxed atmosphere.

Burgundy Wines and Exceptional Cheeses

The heart of the fair is, of course, its gastronomic exhibitors. About fifteen producers, artisans, and merchants offer their best products to the public: white wines from Chablis and its famous Premiers and Grands Crus, red wines from Burgundy from the Yonne appellations, but also wines from Pouilly, Vézelay, and Irancy. Cheese lovers are not left out: affineurs and cheesemakers present the jewels of the regional terroir — the washed-rind Époisses with marc de Bourgogne, the creamy Soumaintrain, Saint-Florentin, the creamy Chaource — as well as farmstead goat cheeses from the Yonne hills and platters from Tonnerrois.

Around these cheese and wine stars, a small market of local and regional producers completes the offering: honey from Aillantais apiaries, artisanal jams, homemade cured meats and terrines, garden vegetables, sourdough country bread, regional biscuits, and sweets. The Burgundian table is celebrated here in all its diversity, at producer prices.

A Day of Celebration for the Whole Family

The Neuilly Wine and Cheese Fair is not just a market fair: it's a true village festival, festive and family-friendly. The day's program combines activities for children and cultural highlights for adults.

Fans of bargain hunting and second-hand goods are in for a treat with the large flea market and house clearance sale that stretches across several village streets. From 7 AM, dozens of individuals set up their stalls, offering furniture, knick-knacks, clothing, books, vinyl records, and unusual items. A great find for bargain hunters from the Yonne and neighboring departments.

For lovers of farmyards and local breeds, a poultry exhibition (subject to authorization) allows visitors to discover the region's finest poultry: Bresse chickens, Barbary ducks, guinea fowl, and heritage breed rabbits. A picturesque attraction that transports visitors back to the rural world of deep Burgundy.

Families with children will find their joy with the inflatable structures for the little ones, and the festive atmosphere that reigns all day long in the village streets. Local associations — the Club de l'Amitié (Friendship Club) and the Association du Patrimoine (Heritage Association) — hold their exhibition-sale stands, featuring the work of their members and publications on the history and heritage of Neuilly and Valravillon.

The Free Concert: The Climax of the Afternoon

In the late afternoon, the fair transforms into a musical celebration with a free concert that brings together all generations. Starting at 3:30 PM, a local or regional band takes over the improvised stage and offers the audience an hour and a half of open-air music. Groups like Les Indécis have animated recent editions, offering varied repertoires and a festive atmosphere. These village concerts, modest in their means but generous in their conviviality, embody the very spirit of the festival: sharing, collective joy, and attachment to local culture.

Neuilly and Valravillon: A Terroir in the Heart of Aillantais

Neuilly is a village in the Aillantais region, a land of hedgerows and rivers that stretches northwest of Auxerre, between Puisaye and Gâtinais. Integrated since 2016 into the new commune of Valravillon, alongside Guerchy, Laduz, and Villemer, Neuilly retains its own identity and age-old traditions. The village, whose history dates back to the 5th century, has a remarkable church whose grand portal is adorned with capitals featuring a double row of vine leaves — a particularly appropriate symbol for a commune that celebrates Burgundy wines.

The Aillantais is a region of hedgerows and livestock farming, but it is also open to the great vineyards of the Yonne. About thirty kilometers to the northwest lie the vineyards of Chablis, whose mineral and elegant white wines are among the most renowned in the world. Further east, the slopes of Irancy and the hillsides of Vézelien produce fine reds and delicate rosés. It is this entire wine heritage that the Neuilly Wine and Cheese Fair celebrates every August 15th, bringing together producers and enthusiasts in a shared spirit of conviviality and love for the terroir.

Admission is completely free, and the event runs from 7 AM to 7 PM, allowing families to organize their day at their own pace: flea market in the morning, gastronomic tasting at midday, and a concert in the late afternoon to end this beautiful summer festival on a high note.