The Must-Attend Champagne Event of the Year: La Fête du Champagne Los Angeles
- EH
- Sep 25
- 20 min read
Updated: Oct 22
La Fête du Champagne is set to dazzle Los Angeles with a long weekend of bubbly revelry from November 13–15, 2025. This storied celebration – founded by Champagne expert Peter Liem and renowned sommelier Daniel Johnnes – has become the nation’s premier Champagne festival, showcasing the world’s finest bubbles in epic style.
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La Fête du Champagne is making its way to the City of Angels, bringing together legendary Champagne houses and cult grower estates, Michelin-starred chefs, and devoted oenophiles for three days of pure effervescence. It’s a unique opportunity for wine lovers to immerse themselves in Champagne’s heritage, from educational seminars to indulgent tastings and dinners, all against the glamorous backdrop of Los Angeles.
A Brief History of La Fête du Champagne
Champagne has long deserved a celebration as grand as the wines themselves. In 2014, Peter Liem (author of Champagne: The Essential Guide) partnered with Daniel Johnnes (the mastermind of La Paulée Burgundy festivals) to create La Fête du Champagne, a festival dedicated to the Champenois spirit. What began in New York as a passion project quickly blossomed into the most high-profile Champagne event in the U.S.. The festival honors both the prestigious grandes marques and the boutique vignerons of Champagne: you’ll find legendary houses like Dom Pérignon, Krug, Louis Roederer, Bollinger pouring alongside new-wave grower-producers such as Pascal Doquet, Marc Hébrart, Vilmart, and A. Margaine, among many others.
Equally star-studded is the culinary lineup – over the years, icons from Daniel Boulud to Arnaud Lallement and Wolfgang Puck have lent their talents. La Fête du Champagne strikes a perfect balance between intellectual exploration (through seminars and vertical tastings) and joyful indulgence (through walk-around fêtes and gala dinners). Now, as it comes to Los Angeles for 2025, local Champagne aficionados have much to celebrate – and to prepare for.
Los Angeles La Fête du Champagne 2025 Event Overview
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EP CLUB DISCOUNT:
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22% off with the NYC 3-Event Package – Apéro, Grand Tasting & Gala Dinner – for $1,550 + tax using code ENPRIMEURCLUB (limited availability)
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Philipponnat Clos des Goisses Dinner – Kato, Los Angeles
Intimate tasting dinner featuring iconic vintages of Philipponnat’s legendary Clos des Goisses (including rare rosé bottlings and a 1979 finale).
Hosted by Charles Philipponnat; multi-course menu by Chef Jon Yao at Michelin-starred Kato (LA Times’ #1 restaurant of 2024).
Price: $1,250 + tax.
Friday, November 14, 2025
Los Angeles Apéro au Champagne – La Peer Rooftop, West Hollywood
A festive open-air apéritif party featuring Champagne in large format: magnums from every attending producer poured by top sommeliers.
Lively ambiance with music and gourmet bites as guests mingle with winemakers and welcome the Champenois to L.A. in style.
Price: $350 + tax
Journey to the North with Louis Roederer – Juliet, Culver City
An exclusive dinner led by Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, Chef de Cave of Louis Roederer, exploring Champagne’s northern terroirs and cutting-edge viticulture.
Features Roederer’s avant-garde Brut Nature (co-created with designer Philippe Starck), rare single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs and Rosé cuvées, and a four-vintage Cristal flight (including the famed 2008).
Price: $995 + tax.
Saturday, November 15, 2025
Champagne from Soil to Sip – Fairmont Miramar (Wedgewood Ballroom), Santa Monica
A seminar journey through Champagne’s vineyards and cellars, led by La Fête co-founder Peter Liem alongside Dominique Demarville (Maison Lallier) and Mathilde Margaine (A. Margaine).
Learn how terroir and technique shape Champagne styles, with comparative tastings of grand marque vs. grower wines (e.g. Lallier’s cuvées vs. Margaine’s Special Club blanc de blancs).
Price: $125 + tax.
Los Angeles Grand Tasting – Fairmont Miramar (Moreton Bay Circle), Santa Monica
The must-attend walk-around tasting showcasing 100+ Champagnes from all 25 participating houses and growers. An unparalleled chance to taste everything from prestige cuvées to boutique grower bottlings in one afternoon.
Highlights include legendary labels (expect pours of treasures like Dom Pérignon Plénitude 2 (P2) 2004 and Krug 2011, among others) alongside contemporary gems, all accompanied by gourmet small plates from top local purveyors.
Price: $450 + tax
Los Angeles Gala Dinner – Fairmont Miramar (Starlight Ballroom), Santa Monica
The grand finale: an opulent multi-course Gala prepared by an all-star chef team – Jon Yao (Kato), Josiah Citrin (Mélisse, Citrin), Ludo Lefebvre (Petit Trois), and Dave Beran (Pasjoli) – creating a feast tailored to Champagne.
The evening kicks off with Jeroboams of vintage Chablis (courtesy of Domaine William Fèvre) to refresh palates, then unfolds into a Champagne extravaganza. Every attending producer contributes special bottles, and guests are encouraged to bring cherished Champagnes from their own cellars to share – a joyous tradition that turns the ballroom into one big celebratory family. Top sommeliers orchestrate service (often pouring from large-format bottles) as toasts ring out into the night.
Price: $1,200 + tax.
Philipponnat Clos des Goisses Dinner
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Few Champagne sites are as revered as Clos des Goisses – a walled, steep vineyard in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ that produces one of Champagne’s most powerful and profound wines. First bottled in 1935 as the region’s original single-vineyard tête de cuvée, Clos des Goisses has a legendary status among connoisseurs. Its magic lies in the terroir: a fully south-facing slope of pure chalk overlooking the Marne River, which imbues the Pinot Noir–dominant wine with a unique balance of ripeness and minerality. Unlike many prestige Champagnes released only in top years, Philipponnat has declared Clos des Goisses in every vintage since 1988, a testament to this terroir’s consistency and character.
Hosting this dinner is none other than Charles Philipponnat, whose family has tended Clos des Goisses for generations. Charles will guide guests through an extraordinary vertical tasting spanning decades of his flagship wine. Attendees can look forward to recent celebrated vintages like 2007–2016, a trio of extremely rare Clos des Goisses Juste Rosé (Philipponnat’s coveted rosé from the clos), and a climax in the form of the 1979 vintage, a bottle with over 40 years of age. Tasting such a lineage side by side offers a time-traveling glimpse into how great Champagne evolves – from the freshness of youth to the toasty, truffled nuances of maturity. It’s a lineup guaranteed to set any Champagne-lover’s heart racing.
Equally exciting is the culinary side of the evening. The venue, Kato in Downtown L.A., is a jewel of the city’s dining scene – a Michelin-starred restaurant known for its artful blend of Taiwanese-inspired flavors and California produce. Chef Jon Yao (a James Beard Award winner and LA native) will craft a bespoke tasting menu to complement the spectrum of Champagnes. Yao’s cuisine is light, seasonal, and umami-rich, which makes it an ideal match for the depth and intensity of Clos des Goisses. In fact, Kato was recently crowned the LA Times’ #1 Restaurant of 2024, so guests are in for a treat.
Picture a course of pristine seafood or a delicately savory broth enhancing a young vintage’s minerality, followed by a rich, slow-cooked poultry or mushroom dish to mirror the complexity of an older rosé – the food and wine pairings promise to be unforgettable. With an intimate setting and only a handful of seats available, this dinner will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those lucky enough to attend.
Location: Kato – 777 S Alameda St #114, Los Angeles, CA 90021
Time: 6:30 PM PT (Champagne reception), followed by dinner at 7:00 PM
Price: $1,250 + tax (Limited seating)
Highlights: Charles Philipponnat in person; vertical of Clos des Goisses including rosés and the 1979 vintage; Chef Jon Yao’s Michelin-starred cuisine.
Los Angeles Apéro au Champagne
Friday, November 14, 2025
In true French fashion, La Fête du Champagne’s Apéro is all about l’apéritif – that magical early evening moment when friends gather over drinks to whet the appetite for the night to come. Hosted on the stylish rooftop of the La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood, the Apéro au Champagne will transform a fall Friday twilight into a sparkling soiree. Guests will mix and mingle under the open sky, flute in hand, surrounded by the buzz of conversation and live music. The atmosphere will be chic yet relaxed – imagine a DJ spinning upbeat tunes or perhaps a jazz trio playing as the sun sets over L.A., the city lights beginning to twinkle.
What truly sets this party apart is the dizzying array of Champagnes being poured – exclusively from magnums. Magnum bottles (1.5L, equal to two standard bottles) are considered the optimal size for aging wine, often yielding fresher, more nuanced flavors. At the Apéro, nearly every attending producer has furnished magnums of one of their signature cuvées, giving attendees a chance to taste the entire spectrum of Champagne styles in large-format glory. You can wander from table to table, sampling an Armand de Brignac “Ace of Spades” Gold Brut NV here, a rare Clos Lanson 2008 there.
Savor a pour of Dom Pérignon 2013 en magnum. Craving pure blanc de blancs? Don’t miss Etienne Calsac’s Les Rocheforts or Valentin Leflaive’s Côte de Blancs – all in magnum. Even cult grower Champagnes like Christophe Baron’s “Les Alouettes” 2018 (a tiny-production Pinot Meunier Champagne) will be flowing freely. In total, over 20 different wines will be poured from magnums, spanning Grand Marque classics and boutique grower rarities.
Aside from the endless Champagne, the Apéro will offer gourmet grazing stations and passed hors d’oeuvres to keep you fueled. Expect a caviar station (because what’s Champagne without caviar?), an assortment of artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, and inventive small bites from the hotel’s kitchen – all curated to pair with bubbly. Top sommeliers from around the country will be on hand pouring and talking guests through the wines. So it’s a great time to ask questions, learn tidbits about each cuvée, or even get pro tips for the weekend ahead. The open format means you can socialize with winemakers in a casual setting – don’t be surprised to find yourself clinking glasses with the cellar master of Krug or the family behind a boutique grower label. And in keeping with California style, the dress code is “summer chic” – think breezy dresses, linen blazers, maybe a stylish hat – so everyone will be dressed to feel festive and comfortable outdoors. (The event will move indoors in case of inclement weather, but mid-November in L.A. is usually idyllic.)
Whether you attend solo, with a date, or a whole crew of friends, the Apéro au Champagne is the ideal “soft launch” for your La Fête weekend: it breaks the ice (with bubbles as the social lubricant), lets you taste many high-end Champagnes without formality, and sets an exuberant tone. Pro tip: Arrive on time at 5 PM to catch the first pops of the bottles – certain magnums might kick and empty fast (everyone will want a taste of unicorns like Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition in magnum!). And remember, with so much Champagne on offer, pace yourself – you’ll want to save some palate (and stamina) for the next day’s Grand Tasting and Gala.
Location: La Peer Hotel Rooftop – 627 N La Peer Dr, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Time: 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM PT
Price: $350 + tax
Insider Tip: This is a stand-up, walk-around event; wear chic but comfortable shoes. Have a light snack beforehand (don’t Champagne on an empty stomach!), and bring business cards if you’d like to network with fellow bubbly lovers.
Journey to the North with Louis Roederer
Friday, November 14, 2025
For serious Champagne aficionados, this Louis Roederer dinner is a highlight of the weekend – a chance to dive deep into one esteemed house’s philosophy and terroir. Louis Roederer (the storied Reims maison best known for Cristal) has in recent decades become a leader in organic and biodynamic viticulture in Champagne. Under the guidance of Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon – arguably Champagne’s most visionary Chef de Cave – Roederer has acquired prime vineyards in the Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs, experimented with novel winemaking techniques (from amphora aging to zero-dosage cuvées), and launched new wines that push boundaries. Dinner guests will get to experience this innovative spirit first-hand. The theme “Journey to the North” refers to exploring Champagne’s northern terroirs – particularly the Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne – through the lens of Roederer’s wines.
In an intimate setting at Juliet, a chic new French-Californian restaurant in Culver City, Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon will lead a guided tasting across an astonishing range of Roederer Champagnes. The evening’s lineup reads like a Roederer greatest-hits list, with a few surprises. To start, there’s Brut Nature 2018, the highly limited zero-dosage cuvée Roederer created in collaboration with designer Philippe Starck – a pure, bone-dry Champagne that reflects the essence of chalk soil and ripe Pinot Meunier from the western Vallée de la Marne. By contrast, their Blanc de Blancs 2017 highlights Chardonnay from the Grand Cru village of Avize, giving a chalky, citrusy counterpoint.
You’ll taste the Vintage 2016, a 100% Pinot Noir Champagne from Verzy (Roederer’s original vines acquired in the 1850s) that shows the power and structure of the north-facing Montagne de Reims slopes. The Rosé 2017 (and a rare late-release Rosé 1998 from the cellar) demonstrate Roederer’s elegant maceration rosé style, largely from Cumières Pinot Noir.
And then, the Cristals: Lécaillon has curated a mini-vertical of four Cristal bottlings to conclude the night. Prepare to savor Cristal 2016 (a current release showcasing Cristal’s precision in a cooler year), Cristal 2012 (a riper year already hailed as one of the greats), the iconic Cristal 2008 (a wine of legendary balance and depth, from Champagne’s banner vintage of the 21st century), and a unicorn Cristal Rosé 2008. Tasting these side by side is a rare treat – you’ll discern the nuances that cellar age and vintage variation impart on one of the world’s most revered Champagnes. Throughout, Jean-Baptiste will share insights on how Roederer adapts to climate change, soil expression, and biodynamics to keep improving their wines. It’s as educational as it is indulgent.
All the while, Juliet’s kitchen will serve a seasonal, market-driven menu that reflects California bounty with French technique. (Juliet has been earning raves for its contemporary take on brasserie cuisine – think foie gras with local stone fruit compote, or dry-aged duck with farmers’ market vegetables.) Each course will be expertly paired to the specific wine flight. The ambiance at Juliet is modern yet intimate, with an open kitchen and warm lighting – perfect for a dinner that feels like a conversation among friends and a legendary winemaker. Given the exceptional bottles being opened, this dinner is very limited in seating. If you’re lucky enough to snag a ticket, expect to come away with a deeper appreciation for how one Champagne house can interpret varied terroirs and styles, and a few new stories to tell (perhaps including what Cristal Rosé 2008 tastes like!).
Location: Juliet – 8888 Washington Blvd Suite 102, Culver City, CA 90232
Time: 7:00 PM PT (welcome pour), dinner begins shortly after
Price: $995 + tax
Notable Pours: Full Roederer range including Brut Nature 2018, Verzy Vintage 2016, Avize Blanc de Blancs, Cumières Rosé, and a Cristal vertical (2008 Rosé among them). Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon will personally guide the tasting.
Champagne from Soil to Sip (Seminar)
Saturday, November 15, 2025
After two nights of indulgence, Saturday morning offers a chance to engage your mind and palate in a different way. The “Champagne from Soil to Sip” seminar is the weekend’s intellectual centerpiece – an illuminating hour that will deepen your understanding of how Champagne is grown and made. The session is hosted at the Fairmont Miramar’s Wedgewood Ballroom (a lovely space in the hotel’s historic wing), providing a calm setting with classroom-style seating and pours of Champagne at each place.
Guiding the seminar are three bona fide Champagne experts: Peter Liem, who literally wrote the book on Champagne (his James Beard Award-winning Champagne guide is a must-read), and two star producers from the region – Dominique Demarville of Champagne Lallier and Mathilde Margaine of Champagne A. Margaine. This trio represents a perfect cross-section of perspectives. Demarville, formerly chef de cave at Veuve Clicquot, now leads Lallier in Aÿ – he brings insight from the big-house, Grand Cru vineyard tradition. Mathilde Margaine is part of the new generation at her family’s grower estate in Villers-Marmery (Montagne de Reims), renowned for its Chardonnay on unique chalk soils. And Liem, as co-founder of La Fête, is a neutral arbiter and fount of knowledge on all things Champagne. Their topic: how Champagne’s terroir, grape varieties, and winemaking choices translate into the diverse styles we love.
Expect a lively discussion that starts literally from the ground up – Champagne’s chalk subsoil and cool climate, and how growers are adapting viticulture in the face of warmer vintages. The panel will likely contrast the approaches of maisons vs. récoltants (growers): for instance, Lallier sources grapes from across Champagne’s top villages, blending for consistency, whereas Margaine works exclusively with estate fruit from a single Premier Cru village, emphasizing terroir character. You’ll learn about decisions around malolactic fermentation (to do or not to do?), aging reserve wines, dosage levels, and more. Crucially, four Champagne samples will be poured for tasting to illustrate key points.
These include two wines from Lallier (their flagship R.021 Brut NV, which is a blend based on 2021 with reserve wines, and the “Ouvrage” – Lallier’s prestige cuvée that sees longer aging and lower dosage), and two from A. Margaine (likely the fresh, citrusy Brut Traditionelle and the rare Special Club 2018 blanc de blancs, which is the apex of the Margaine range). Tasting these side by side, guided by Dominique and Mathilde, will highlight differences between a blended multi-vintage house style and a single-vintage terroir wine from a grower – an invaluable compare-and-contrast exercise for any Champagne student.
By seminar’s end, you’ll have a deeper appreciation for the “ingredients” of Champagne – the chalk and limestone, the Chardonnay vs. Pinot Noir (and Meunier), the tank vs. barrel fermentations – and how they all come together in the glass. Peter Liem is a generous moderator, adept at translating geeky concepts into clear takeaways, so both novices and seasoned collectors will find value. This session is also a great way to meet fellow enthusiasts in a smaller setting; don’t be shy about asking questions or striking up conversation with the person next to you about which wine you preferred and why.
Location: Fairmont Miramar Hotel – Wedgewood Ballroom, 101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM PT
Price: $125 + tax (seating is limited)
Speakers: Peter Liem (Champagne author), Dominique Demarville (Chef de Cave, Lallier), Mathilde Margaine (vigneronne, A. Margaine). Includes guided tasting of 4 wines (two each from Lallier and Margaine).
Los Angeles Grand Tasting
Saturday, November 15, 2025
If any single event captures the spirit and scope of La Fête du Champagne, it’s the Grand Tasting. Envision an elegant garden party by the sea, except instead of tea and lemonade, the refreshments are over one hundred exceptional Champagnes, and the guests of honor are the winemakers themselves. Taking place on the grounds of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica – specifically around the landmark Moreton Bay fig tree and seaside lawn – the Grand Tasting runs from noon to mid-afternoon, offering three unhurried hours to sip, savor, and socialize. It’s a walk-around tasting, meaning you’ll stroll at your own pace between tasting stations. Each station is manned by representatives from a particular Champagne house or estate (often the winemaker or owner will be there in person), and they will be pouring a curated selection of their wines.
All 25 participating producers will be present, pouring at least 3–4 cuvées each, so the breadth of Champagne on offer is staggering. You can literally taste the difference between, say, a low-dosage grower Champagne from the Aube and a rich tête de cuvée from a famous Reims house back-to-back. Want to compare prestige blanc de blancs? Sample Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne (if present) next to Pierre Peters Les Chetillons. Or contrast the oxidative style of a small producer like Eric Rodez with the fresh reductive style of Laurent-Perrier’s Grand Siècle Iteration 27 – these opportunities are everywhere. The printed program will provide a map and listing of everything being poured, but expect gems such as Dom Pérignon P2 2004 (the second plenitude of the 2004 vintage, disgorged late for extra complexity), Krug Grande Cuvée 167ème and 172ème Editions (two different release batches of Krug’s flagship showcasing subtle blending nuances), Bollinger’s La Grande Année 2015 and even their rare still red Côte aux Enfants 2013 (a Coteaux Champenois wine, a sneak peek at the red wine that usually goes into Bollinger rosé). Many boutique growers will pour limited cuvées that barely make it to retail: e.g., Chartogne-Taillet’s single-parcel bottlings or Vilmart’s Coeur de Cuvée 2017. From non-vintage bruts to vintage blanc de noirs, from zero-dosage to demi-sec, every style of Champagne will be represented somewhere in that courtyard.
To complement the Champagne, a selection of culinary stations and passed bites will be on hand (all included in your ticket). The Fairmont is bringing in top local restaurants and purveyors – you might find a fresh oyster bar by Taylor Shellfish, another caviar tasting courtesy of Haute Caviar, or a truffle pasta bite from a renowned Italian spot. These small dishes are meant to cleanse your palate and keep you fueled, but also to illustrate pairing ideas. Perhaps try a briny oyster with a crisp brut nature, or a savory gougère with a fuller-bodied Pinot Noir Champagne. There’s no formal seating – this is a convivial walkabout – but there will be high-top tables and lounge areas where you can take a break, review your notes, and discuss favorites with friends.
One of the joys of the Grand Tasting is the chance to chat with the winemakers in a relaxed setting. Don’t be shy about expressing your admiration or curiosity. Ask that grower what makes their vineyard special, or have Olivier Krug explain the idea behind the different Editions of Grande Cuvée. These personal interactions are what make festivals like this so memorable; you’re not just tasting wines, you’re connecting with the people and stories behind them.
As the afternoon sun filters through the trees and you savor your umpteenth delicious Champagne, you’ll likely have a moment of pure bliss – this is what La Fête is all about. A few practical tips: arrive on time (12 PM) to maximize your tasting window; with 100+ wines, you won’t taste them all, but an early start helps. The event is partly outdoors, so wear sunscreen or a sunhat if it’s a bright day. Hydration is key – take advantage of the water stations and maybe alternate some bites of food between tasting pours. And if a particular wine wows you, note it down or snap a photo of the label; it’s easy to forget names amidst the bubbly haze. Most importantly, pace yourself and enjoy responsibly – you’ll want to save some energy (and a clear head) for the Gala Dinner in the evening.
Location: Fairmont Miramar Hotel – Moreton Bay Circle (outdoor lawn), 101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM PT
Price: $450 + tax
Highlights: 100+ Champagnes. Notable pours include prestige cuvées (e.g. Dom Pérignon P2 2004, Krug 167ème & 172ème Editions), rare grower releases and more. Gourmet food stations provided. Casual upscale attire; outdoor setting.
Gala Dinner
Saturday, November 15, 2025
La Fête du Champagne’s Gala Dinner is the crowning jewel of the weekend – an evening of high gastronomy, rare wines, and joyous celebration that longtime attendees often describe as “legendary.” It’s the closest thing the Champagne world has to a grand bal or a family reunion, rolled into one lavish night. Hosted in the Fairmont Miramar’s elegant Starlight Ballroom (with sparkling crystal chandeliers and ocean views), the Gala is a black-tie affair (or Champagne chic – expect to see some creative dinner jackets and shimmering gowns). The festivities commence at 6:30 PM with a Champagne reception – but in true La Fête style, it won’t be just any ordinary bubbles being poured. This year, the reception will feature Jeroboams of Domaine William Fèvre Chablis (three-liter bottles of premier cru Chablis) to enliven the palate. It’s a delightful twist: starting the night with grand format white Burgundy before diving back into Champagne, and a nod to the Burgundian roots of La Fête’s sister event, La Paulée.
Once seated, prepare for an extravagant multi-course dinner prepared by not one, but four culinary luminaries. The chef lineup is a dream team of L.A. talent and international flair: Chef Dave Beran of Pasjoli (known for his intricate French technique and modern approach), Chef Josiah Citrin of Mélisse (two Michelin stars, a maestro of seasonal California-French cuisine), Chef Ludo Lefebvre of Petit Trois (the icon who brought the French bistro into the L.A. zeitgeist), and Chef Jon Yao of Kato (who proved at the Clos des Goisses dinner he can harmonize flavors with Champagne perfectly). These chefs will collaborate on a sumptuous menu with luxurious ingredients where each course is designed to pair with Champagne. Given the collective creativity and Michelin firepower in the kitchen, the result will be nothing short of a feast for the ages.
On the wine front, the Gala is a playground for Champagne lovers. Throughout dinner, every attending Champagne house and grower contributes special bottles from their cellars to be poured for guests. This often includes top cuvées, late-disgorged rarities, older vintages, and large formats. You might find a 1996 Salon surfacing at your table, or a magnum of 1979 Taittinger Comtes, or a rare pre-release of the next Cristal – one never knows, and that’s part of the thrill. Importantly, the Gala embraces a beloved tradition inherited from La Paulée: guests are encouraged to bring bottles from their own collections to share freely. By the main course, the room becomes a sea of iconic labels being passed from table to table, as new friends toast and pour for each other. Don’t be surprised if a fellow guest offers you a taste of a unicorn bottle you’ve only read about – the ethos here is generosity and communal celebration. This culture of sharing is what elevates the Gala from a fancy dinner into a profoundly memorable experience of camaraderie. Strangers become friends over a mutual love of Champagne.
To ensure smooth service of so many bottles, a team of world-class sommeliers (drawn from top restaurants across the country) will coordinate the pouring. They are adept at handling priceless bottles and making sure every guest gets to try the must-taste wines. If you have a special bottle you bring, you can hand it to a sommelier and they’ll see that it’s appropriately chilled, opened, and circulated. Tip: if you bring something, consider a magnum or two – larger bottles make it easier to share widely (and tend to show off well in a party setting).
As the courses progress, expect spontaneous speeches and toasts. Festival co-founders Peter Liem and Daniel Johnnes will likely say a few words, and notable winemakers might offer a toast or anecdote. But above all, the mood is one of unfettered joy. By dessert, the Champagne will have flowed freely, new friendships will have been forged, and the room usually erupts into singing or at least a rousing collective “Cheers!” (Last year in New York, the crowd broke into an impromptu chorus of the French anthem in honor of the visiting Champenois – who knows what L.A. might have in store!)
The Gala Dinner encapsulates why La Fête du Champagne is so special: it’s a night where the love of wine breaks down all barriers – collectors, winemakers, chefs, and enthusiasts all revel together in the shared passion. Don’t forget to take a moment amid the celebration to simply look around the grand ballroom – the sight of hundreds of Champagne flutes raised in unison is truly beautiful. If you attend one event all weekend, this is the one for an over-the-top, only-at-La-Fête experience.
Location: Fairmont Miramar Hotel – Starlight Ballroom, 101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
Time: 6:30 PM PT reception; dinner begins at 7:15 PM (approximately)
Price: $1,200 + tax
Dress Code: Black tie or festive evening attire (this is your chance to sparkle as much as the Champagne!)
Unique Traditions: Communal bottle sharing (guests bring bottles to share); Jeroboam Champagne & Chablis reception; Multiple top chefs collaborating on the menu.
A Final Toast: Don’t Miss This Champagne Celebration
As the proverb goes, “Champagne is the wine of civilization and the oil of government.” In other words, Champagne has long been the drink of life’s greatest celebrations – and La Fête du Champagne Los Angeles 2025 promises to be a celebration on a monumental scale. Never before has the West Coast played host to such a gathering of Champagne luminaries, from the grandes maisons to the artisanal growers, all in one place, all sharing their finest bottles. It’s a testament to L.A.’s growing importance in the wine world that this city is now the final stop of the 2025 festival (following Chicago and NYC). For local enthusiasts, this is the chance to experience what East Coast fans have been raving about for years. For travelers, it’s the perfect excuse to visit sunny Southern California and indulge in a wine experience you simply can’t replicate anywhere else.
Tickets are on sale now, and given the buzz (and limited capacities), most events will sell out quickly – some are likely already waitlist-only by the time you read this. If you’re serious about attending, book as early as possible and use your discounts! As an En Primeur Club reader, use ENPRIMEURCLUB10 for 10% off individual events when purchasing, and ENPRIMEURCLUB for the 3-event package if you’re doing Apéro + Grand Tasting + Gala. These moments are what make La Fête du Champagne more than a festival – it’s a community, a temporary Champagne “family” bound by shared passion. As we eagerly await that first celebratory pop of the cork, we’ll echo the festival’s cheerful motto: Que La Fête commence! (Let the party begin!)
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