La Paulée
La Paulée is a premium wine event company founded by Daniel Johnnes that produces Burgundy-focused festivals in New York and San Francisco, alongside sister festivals for Champagne, Rhône, and Italian wines, serving high-net-worth collectors, sommeliers, and top chefs through ticketed experiences and sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersNew City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What La Paulée does
La Paulée operates as a premium wine event company producing Burgundy-focused festivals in the United States, founded by Daniel Johnnes and operated under Gracie Events LLC. The company's flagship events are held in New York City and San Francisco, drawing together high-net-worth collectors, sommeliers, top chefs, and Burgundy producers for multi-day celebrations of Burgundy wines. Ticket prices range from entry-level $75 tastings to $15,500 top-tier experiences, and the portfolio has expanded to include sister festivals covering Champagne (La Fête du Champagne), Rhône (La Tablée), and Italian wines (Convivio), positioning La Paulée as a multi-region fine wine festival operator.
The business model combines ticket sales, sponsorship revenue from marquee partners (American Express, Acker Wines, Daniel Boulud), live auction commissions in partnership with Acker Wines, and Pressoir, a membership community platform that extends engagement beyond the festival calendar. Distribution and audience reach are anchored in co-branded promotional channels with premium credit card issuers and auction houses, while the underlying platform is a curated event and community experience rather than a technology product. The company employs 11-50 people and operates as a privately held business with no disclosed funding rounds.
La Paulée firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- La Paulée
- Legal name
- Gracie Events LLC
- Website
- https://lapaulee.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- La Paulée is a premium wine event company founded by Daniel Johnnes that produces Burgundy-focused festivals in New York and San Francisco, alongside sister festivals for Champagne, Rhône, and Italian wines, serving high-net-worth collectors, sommeliers, and top chefs through ticketed experiences and sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
La Paulée industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wine Event Services
- NAICS
- Food Services and Drinking Places (722)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food, Wine & Beverage Festivals/Expos (MPAGAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD), Food Festivals & Culinary Events (Ticketed Tastings, Pop-ups) (THAJAGAL)
Keywords
Where La Paulée is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
La Paulée business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Event Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets to individual events (dinners, tastings, seminars, grand tastings, gala dinners) and ticket packages (Magnum, Jeroboam, Methuselah). Individual event tickets range from $75 to $9,500; package deals range from $1,650 to $15,500.
- Sponsorship Revenue: Three-tiered sponsorship program: Grand Cru Sponsors (Acker Wines, American Express), Premier Cru Sponsors (Daniel Boulud, Delamotte, NetJets, Glas Vin, Salon Champagne), and Valued Sponsors (Acqua Panna, Andante, Coravin, etc.).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Off Grid Tasting - Entry-level wine education event |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Discovery Lunch / Discovery Seminars |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Verticals Tasting - Walk-around educational tasting |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Grand Tasting - Main walk-around tasting event |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Gala Dinner - Signature dinner event |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Specialty Dinners - Rare wine maker dinners |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Magnum Package - Grand Tasting + Gala Dinner |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Jeroboam Package - Multiple events access |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Methuselah Package - Full program access |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
La Paulée product offering
Product offeringCore offering
La Paulée produces premium multi-day Burgundy wine festivals in major U.S. cities, combining large-format walk-around tastings with attending Burgundian domaines, sommelier- and chef-led seated dinners and seminars, and live auctions of rare Burgundy bottles. Programming is sold through tiered ticketing — from general admission walk-around tickets to multi-seat private tables at gala dinners — aimed at collectors, enthusiasts, and wine-trade professionals. The company also runs ancillary consumer formats such as cigar-and-spirits side events programmed alongside the main festivals.
Product overview
La Paulée operates as a premium wine event company organizing the world's premier Burgundy wine festivals in major US cities. The core offerings include multi-day festival programs (La Paulée de New York, La Paulée de San Francisco, and variants like La Paulée des Champs) featuring various event formats: Grand Tasting (walk-around tastings with 100+ wines), Verticals Tasting (three-vintage verticals from participating domaines), Gala Dinner (signature closing event with renowned chefs), Legends Dinner (exclusive dinners with legendary estates), Rare Wine Dinner, Collectors Lunch, and educational Seminars. The company also runs sister festivals including La Fête du Champagne (Champagne celebration), La Tablée (Rhône Valley), and Convivio dei Vini (Italian wines). Additionally, the company operates Pressoir, a wine community platform offering educational sessions and exclusive dinners. Ticket packages range from individual event tickets to premium bundles (Magnum, Methuselah, Jeroboam packages) offering escalating access levels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- La Paulée New York Flagship multi-day Burgundy wine festival held in New York City, featuring large-format walk-around tastings with attending domaines, sommelier- and chef-led seated dinners and seminars, and live auctions of rare Burgundy bottles. Sold via tiered ticketing aimed at collectors, enthusiasts, and wine-trade professionals.
- La Paulée San Francisco San Francisco edition of the multi-day Burgundy wine festival, distributed in part through an American Express card-member program partnership. Features the same format as the flagship: domaine tastings, sommelier/chef-led dinners, and rare-Burgundy auctions.
- La Paulée Asia International edition of the La Paulée Burgundy festival series held in Asia, extending the company's multi-day tasting, dinner, and auction programming to Asian collectors and Burgundy enthusiasts.
- Soirée La Paulée cigar and spirits event Ancillary side event programmed alongside La Paulée festivals, focused on cigars and spirits as a complementary lifestyle format for festival attendees.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100+ wines presented at each Grand Tasting
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use La Paulée
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
La Paulée technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
La Paulée partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered grand cru, premier cru, minor and core.
- American Expressgrand cruGrand Cru Sponsor providing exclusive American Express Membership Experiences presale access and exclusive events for card members. American Express card is required to purchase certain exclusive tickets and packages. Significant co-marketing partner for ticket sales.
- Acker Winesgrand cruGrand Cru Sponsor and exclusive retail partner. Acker hosts the La Paulée auction during NYC festivities featuring 3,700+ lots and $22+ million in fine Burgundy. Provides seamless delivery of purchased wines to the Gala Dinner venue.
- Daniel Bouludpremier cruPremier Cru Sponsor. Chef Daniel Boulud serves as Chef d'Honneur across multiple programs, preparing menus for Gala Dinners and signature events. Restaurant DANIEL is primary venue for many events.
- Delamottepremier cruPremier Cru Sponsor. Champagne Delamotte provides reception Champagne at events across all programs. Part of the Champagne Salon family.
- NetJetspremier cruPremier Cru Sponsor. Private aviation company presenting exclusive dinners such as the Rare Wine Dinner with Christophe Roumier.
- Salon Champagnepremier cruPremier Cru Sponsor. Champagne Salon provides reception Champagne for Legends Dinners and exclusive events.
- Glas Vinpremier cruPremier Cru Sponsor. Wine accessories partner for La Paulée events.
- Acqua PannaminorValued Sponsor. Premium water brand providing still water at events.
- Andante DairyminorValued Sponsor. Artisan cheese provider for events.
- CoravinminorValued Sponsor. Wine preservation systems for event service.
- San PellegrinominorValued Sponsor. Sparkling water brand providing for events.
- Taylor Shellfish FarmsminorValued Sponsor. Oyster and seafood provider, particularly for Chablis seminars and events.
- Haute CaviarminorValued Sponsor. Premium caviar provider for events.
- Hillebrand GoriminorValued Sponsor. Wine logistics and shipping partner.
- UOVO WineminorValued Sponsor. Wine storage and cellar services.
- Pressoir (Pressoir.wine)coreCommunity platform for wine lovers created by the La Paulée team. Extends the La Paulée brand year-round with educational sessions, wine dinners, and Pressoir Club membership. Cross-promotes all La Paulée festivals.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
La Paulée competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Charleston Wine + Food: Multi-day premium food and wine festival featuring curated tastings, winemaker dinners, and educational seminars. Directly comparable in event format, audience (collectors and enthusiasts), and chef-and-winery programming.
- New York City Wine & Food Festival: Large-scale NYC food and wine festival with tasting events, dinners, and seminars supported by a major media partner (Food Network). Comparable in market (NYC) and format, though with a more mass-premium audience than La Paulée's collector focus.
- Wine Spectator: Operates the Wine Spectator Wine Experience, a multi-day premium wine tasting and dinner festival in major US cities. Directly comparable as a tier-1 consumer wine event series with chef-driven dinners, walk-around Grand Tastings, and a similar sponsor ecosystem.
- Pebble Beach Food & Wine: Annual multi-day luxury food and wine festival in California featuring walk-around tastings, winemaker dinners, and celebrity-chef programming. Comparable premium positioning, multi-day festival format, and chef/sommelier-driven programming.
- Naples Winter Wine Festival: High-ticket charity wine festival featuring winemaker dinners, a large live auction, and vintner tastings. Directly comparable on premium pricing, auction-led monetization, and HNW collector audience; closest analogue to La Paulée's auction franchise.
- Aspen Food & Wine Classic: Premier US food-and-wine festival featuring grand tastings, seminars, and chef-driven dinners at a similar price point. Directly comparable in format, audience, and sponsor profile, though broader in scope (food + wine vs. wine-only).
Regional players
- Festival Napa Valley: Multi-day wine, food, and arts festival in Napa Valley featuring winemaker dinners, tastings, and educational programming. Comparable in format and audience but regional (Napa) rather than bi-coastal.
- Taste of Vail: Annual multi-day food and wine festival in Vail, Colorado featuring walk-around tastings and winemaker dinners. Comparable event format but geographically focused on a single resort market.
Emerging players
- Outstanding in the Field: Traveling culinary event series featuring long-table dinners at farms and vineyards with guest chefs and winemakers. Partial overlap in experiential dining + wine programming, with a more farm-to-table focus than La Paulée's Burgundy-centric, chef-driven format.
Broad incumbents
- Food & Wine (Dotdash Meredith): Major US food and wine media brand that produces events including the Food & Wine Classic. A broader incumbent with overlapping audience reach, content platform, and event programming, but a much wider portfolio than a single-region festival company.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
La Paulée social profiles
Digital presenceLa Paulée financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
La Paulée leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
La Paulée funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
La Paulée M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about La Paulée
What does La Paulée do?
La Paulée produces premium multi-day Burgundy wine festivals in major U.S. cities, combining large-format walk-around tastings with attending Burgundian domaines, sommelier- and chef-led seated dinners and seminars, and live auctions of rare Burgundy bottles. Programming is sold through tiered ticketing — from general admission walk-around tickets to multi-seat private tables at gala dinners — aimed at collectors, enthusiasts, and wine-trade professionals. The company also runs ancillary consumer formats such as cigar-and-spirits side events programmed alongside the main festivals.
Is La Paulée a public or private company?
La Paulée is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was La Paulée founded?
La Paulée was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is La Paulée based?
La Paulée is headquartered in New City, United States, in the North America region.
How does La Paulée make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Event Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are sponsorship Revenue.
Who are La Paulée's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Charleston Wine + Food, New York City Wine & Food Festival, Wine Spectator, Pebble Beach Food & Wine, Naples Winter Wine Festival and Aspen Food & Wine Classic. Regional players are Festival Napa Valley and Taste of Vail. Outstanding in the Field is listed as an emerging player. Food & Wine (Dotdash Meredith) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does La Paulée have an API?
No public API is recorded for La Paulée.
What industry is La Paulée in?
La Paulée's product category is Wine Event Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAFAE, Food, Wine & Beverage Festivals/Expos, with a secondary code of THAJAGAD, Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours. Its NAICS code is 722 and its SIC code is 7990.