The Best of the Best: Three Nights in Paris

Location has always been key when it comes to creating a memorable moment, and a great party needs a showstopping venue to truly set the scene. Our vision has always been to select host cities that possess all the qualities of the people and producers in attendance: places that are renowned for a unique mix of culture, excellence and innovation, and have long been the destination for trailblazers and tastemakers in the worlds of fashion, culture, art and dining. 

The Golden Vines® Awards are now in their third year, and have taken place in some truly fantastic host cities: London played host for our inaugural year with chef Mauro Colagreco and a dazzling set by the iconic Kylie Minogue. Then in 2022 the action moved to Florence, where the cognoscenti gathered and the likes of Massimo Bottura and performers Celeste and Sekou displayed their respective talent. 

This year, we move to Paris, a place renowned for its beauty, sophistication, and unparalleled reputation in the world of haute cuisine, fine wine & the rarest of spirit; a truly timeless city where history and prestige blend seamlessly with the modern and innovative, just like the best wines should. A familiar yet unknowable city that always has the potential to surprise you, even after countless visits, it has been setting the global standard for centuries.

Our 2023 Awards Ceremony & Dinner take place in the spectacular surrounds of the iconic Palais Garnier. An architectural masterpiece inaugurated in 1875 at the request of Napoleon III, and still renowned as one of the most opulent and dazzling buildings in Paris, it has long provided the stage for some of the world’s true creative visionaries to showcase their talent.

Famous for being the setting for Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera, each room has its own rich history and beautifully rendered details. From the vault of the Avant-Foyer where our reception will take place, covered with shimmering golden mosaics, to the view of the Grand Staircase, the ceilings depicting the history of music, and the play of light between mirrors and windows in the Grand Foyer where our guests will enjoy diner, it remains the jewel in the crown of a city famous for its beauty. A fitting destination for the world’s best wines, spirits and industry figures to take centre stage. 

Our 2023 Dress-to-Party Gala, celebrating Gérard Basset Foundation, its work, and its scholars, will take place in the equally spectacular Théâtre du Merveilleux in Paris’ Pavillons de Bercy. This phantasmagorical space pays homage to the music halls of the industrial 1800s; places that revelled in spectacle and magic, and shed light on the wondrous, unique and unusual. Combining authentic antique attractions with a modern twist – from an elephant shaped air balloon to a unicorn playing piano – this is where our guests will come to dance the night away.

No Parisian excursion would be complete without a gourmet experience, and this year we have not one but two maestros of the Michelin world: the legendary Alain Ducasse, whose name is synonymous with the very best classic French cooking, and rising talent Akrame Benallal, who has been shaking up the Paris restaurant scene with his innovation and creativity, winning him a Michelin stardust one year after opening his eponymous restaurant. Two different styles, but a shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of outstanding cuisine, setting a new gastronomical standard which is much replicated but never bested. Perfect fusion.

The wines that will be served during this incredible weekend include wines from some of the world’s greatest fine wine estates, including Dom Perignon, Krug, Château d’Yquem, IWA Sake, Harlan Estate, Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux, Liber Pater, Taylor’s Port, Istvan Szepsy, as well as literally dozens of estates taking part in masterclasses, lunches and experiences. Maison Camus will also be providing a limited edition cognac specially selected for the event. 

“When we talk about fine wine, then surely France is the pinnacle and so it’s fitting to host the Third Edition of Golden Vines in the capital of a country that has brought so much joy to so many wine lovers”: Lewis Chester DipWSET, CEO of Liquid Icons and Honorary President of the Gérard Basset Foundation. 

Explore The Golden Vines® Awards section of our website to find out more about The 2023 Golden Vines® Programme of Events in Paris, France: https://liquidicons.com/work/golden-vines-awards