Symbol par excellence of the regular activities of the Confrérie des Vignerons, there would simply be no party without a crowning ceremony! Even if, nowadays, the show often eclipses this crowning ceremony, it must not be forgotten that the first festival of 1797 was specifically created to permanently install this ceremony into the Confrérie des Vignerons’ parades. This choice is the last stage of a long evolution that began in the middle of the 18th century.

The century-old method of choosing which winegrowers are to be crowned consists of the following itinerary. Each year, the Confrérie des Vignerons Experts visit the parcels of vines which are then noted. Every three years, during the Triennales, silver and bronze medals and bonuses are awarded to winegrowers. During the Fête des Vignerons, the notes of the last five years’ visits are reviewed. The commission responsible for this task works in closed session, on anonymous and numbered files. No results are leaked publicly before the Crowning ceremony and the tension remains high because the final results are often very, very close.

In 2019, this ceremony will take place on 18 July 2019 at 7 pm during the first performance of the Fête des Vignerons 2019. It makes the first day of the Fête a special occasion: at the peak of Daniele Finzi Pasca’s magical and dreamlike show, the winegrowers will be called up to have their special talent recognised and the best of them will be crowned with public tributes that will reflect on their fame. The show will continue until a big finale. Everyone, with the winegrowers in the pride of place, will then parade between Vevey and La Tour-de-Peilz. A procession bringing together all the actors and actresses of the show, the members of the Confrérie des Vignerons, the musicians will surround the heroes of the day with joy and gratitude. The public will be able to freely witness the passage of this human fresco in the streets of the two neighbouring towns and their quaysides bordering Lake Geneva. After this whirlwind of colours and the warm effervescence that will emerge, it will be time for the banquet. So much activity makes you hungry. All participants who have taken part in the procession will be invited, alongside the guests of the Confrérie des Vignerons, to take part in a meal served in numerous places as the reception receives several thousand guests. And of course, the jubilation will continue on throughout the night…