The wine industry has historically been something of a closed club, dominated and often gatekept by white men. Things are improving and diversifying with many more exceptional women winemakers and people of colour rising through the ranks, setting up their own businesses and paving the way for more of the same from future generations. Nonetheless, there remains lots of work to be done. Still today, only around 1% of wine producers in America are black-owned for example. One person blazing the trail is Founder and CEO of La Fête Wine Company, Donae Burston.
After a high-profile career with LVMH working in and amongst some of the world’s most prestigious wine brands, and experiencing directly the feeling of being an outsider, Donae wanted to create something of his own. Whilst celebrating his 30th in Saint Tropez, he first had a taste of pristine Provence Rosé and his path was forged in that moment.
La Fête’s mission is to bring exceptional Provence to the world and revitalise wine culture to make it accessible and inclusive to more people. Since launching in only 2019, they’ve made staggering progress on both these fronts, taking the US by storm and securing partnerships with a selection of the finest restaurants there. They’ve also put their money where their mouth is on the ground, using sale proceeds to create travel experiences and industry opportunities for underrepresented young people, so not only are they setting an inspirational example for the BIPOC community, but they’re financially supporting them too. Bravo.
Striking a partnership with the renowned Château Saint-Maur, one of only 18 Cru Classé estates in Provence, La Fête now have a coveted trio in their name – first the Rosé, then the Blanc and finally the Rouge. Their flagship La Fête du Rosé was the only wine in its category to be awarded the Double Gold medal at last year’s highly regarded World Wine & Spirits Competition.
A pale blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, vivid stone fruits tantalise on the nose, where you also get a sense of slight minerality. In the mouth, the precise blend of exotic fruits explodes with juicy flavours and incredible refreshment, with subtle nutty depth rounding the profile off.
In the US, Rosé has long been marketed as a summer sipper for women, unlike France where it’s enjoyed by all at any time of year. To change entrenched perceptions like this, the wine itself needs to be good enough so that everyone wants to drink it, and they can’t wait until summer to do so. As the fastest-growing imported luxury Rosé in the country, La Fête have clearly cracked it.
And now, the hype is crossing over from the Atlantic, as UK Sommelier Wine Awards’ Fine Wine Merchant of the Year winner Top Selection are making the full trilogy available in the UK exclusively through them. If you’re interested in Provence Wine and want to taste La Fête’s offering, then you’ll be able to from June onwards – in other words, any day now!
For more information about La Fête Wine Company, explore their website here!