If aliens were about to abduct you and you could choose one final glass of wine to sip before they whisked you off to outer space, what would you pour?
For Brett Zimmerman, there’s no question: a white from France’s Côte de Beaune, preferably a Grand Cru from Puligny-Montrachet or Chassagne-Montrachet, or perhaps a Corton-Charlemagne.
“There is something simply delicious about drinking Burgundy,” says Zimmerman, a master sommelier, owner of the Boulder Wine Merchant and founder of Boulder Burgundy Festival. “The best white Burgundies may be my favorite wines in the world.”
That level of devotion to Burgundy is exactly what the Boulder Burgundy Festival is all about. Now in its 15th year, the annual gathering brings together Burgundy producers, leading sommeliers and wine enthusiasts for an intimate weekend of discovery at Flagstaff House and Academy Mapleton Hill.
This year’s festival, which will take place October 24-25, includes a Paulée-inspired lunch, an educational producer seminar and a Grand Tasting—all while supporting the festival’s nonprofit mission of advancing wine education and community causes.
When Zimmerman first launched the festival more than a decade ago, he drew inspiration from the annual La Paulée event held in Meursault, Burgundy, as well as Daniel Johnnes’s version in New York. At its heart, the tradition is “a celebration following the harvest—a reason to gather around a table, share great wines and celebrate people and life,” he says. “I wanted to bring that spirit to Boulder.”
So, he began forging partnerships with restaurants, hosting educational seminars and offering larger tastings in hopes of building appreciation for Burgundy while also bringing the community together. Supporting local charities focused on education, children and families in need was also central to the idea.
Over the past 15 years, the festival has hosted some of Burgundy’s most important producers, as well as leading wine journalists, outstanding sommeliers and countless importer and distributor partners.
“Honestly, I am humbled by the people we have welcomed over the years,” says Zimmerman. “I never imagined we would be able to bring so much of the best of Burgundy to our little town in Colorado. In that sense, the festival has exceeded anything I originally envisioned.”
He continues to be impressed by festivalgoers’ passion for Burgundy and its culture. Even as production, export and distribution costs have made Burgundies more expensive, “people continue to find ways to enjoy and celebrate them,” he says. “Fifteen years later, that enthusiasm is still very much alive.”
Burgundy’s appeal, he says, comes down to its sense of place. Because many of the region’s wines rely on the same grape varieties—Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Aligoté and Gamay— subtle differences between vineyards and producers can have a major impact on the final product.
“It is one of the great wine regions of the world, and few places offer such a clear expression of how vineyard sites shape what we taste,” he says. “The French term terroir describes the unique characteristics of a place—its soil, slope, exposure to the sun, drainage and climate. Those characteristics, together with the vines themselves and the decisions made by the grower, help determine what ultimately ends up in the glass.”
The wines, he adds, can be both powerful and delicate, with balance and acidity that make them especially well suited to the table.
“Personally, I love visiting Burgundy, eating the food and spending time with the people,” he says. “The cuisine of Burgundy is often hearty and straightforward, and the wines bring out the freshness and quality of good ingredients.”
Burgundy can be an intimidating subject, particularly when its wines are expensive, difficult to find and sometimes surrounded by a reputation for stuffiness. The festival aims to break down those barriers, giving both Burgundy newcomers and longtime fans a chance to taste, learn and explore without feeling like they need to be experts.
“I want our festival to feel warm, generous, and welcoming—a place where people feel comfortable asking questions and discovering something new,” he says.
The weekend’s schedule of events includes:
October 24
- Burgundy Above Boulder (10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.): A beloved festival tradition, lunch at Flagstaff House offers an afternoon celebrating great Burgundy, exceptional cuisine and the convivial spirit of the Paulée. Poured by leading sommeliers, guests will enjoy a journey through the Côte de Beaune from great white wines to the celebrated Pinot Noir terroirs. The afternoon will include a collection of old and rare Burgundy wines selected especially for the occasion and more. Tickets are $375.
October 25:
- Burgundy in Contrast: Chassagne & Volnay (12-1:30 p.m. at Academy Mapleton Hill): Explore two of the great villages of the Côte de Beaune through the wines and perspectives of two exceptional Burgundian producers: Sabine Mollard of Domaine Marc Morey in Chassagne-Montrachet, and Nicolas Rossignol of Volnay. Tickets are $175.
- Burgundy in Full Grand Tasting (2-5 p.m. at Academy Mapleton Hill): Bringing the Boulder Burgundy Festival to a spectacular conclusion, the afternoon is devoted to the extraordinary diversity of Burgundy. More than 60 wines will be presented, offering guests the opportunity to journey through the region’s celebrated villages, vineyards, producers and appellations in a single tasting. Plus, charcuterie, Riedel stems and live music. Tickets are $125.
- For those interested in the full Sunday program, the Complete Sunday Burgundy Experience is available for $250 ($50 savings). Begin with The Soul of Chassagne-Montrachet, the intimate seminar and six-wine tasting with Sabine Mollard of Domaine Marc Morey, followed by an exclusive VIP Champagne intermission before continuing directly into Burgundy in Full Grand Tasting.
