In Burgundy, Paulée celebrations mark the end of the grape harvest, but why wait? Each Paulée is a chance to come together to celebrate the terroir of this special place, the unique conditions of this particular year, and the singular group gathered together to share their craft and the (literal) fruits of their labor. Winemakers bring their favorite bottles from previous vintages to share, passing around harvest tips while pouring glasses, and taking a minute in the midst of a very busy season to slow down and simply spend some time together.

During peak summer season in the Finger Lakes, crystal blue waters stretch and wind between soft curves of lush green trees, rows of grapevines drawing straight lines in the distance. This oft-overlooked area of Upstate New York is a bit of a natural wonderland, boasting fertile soil and cascading waterfalls surrounding the 11 spider-webbing lakes that give the region its name.

For years, Sarah has been nursing another dream of a dinner at a long table surrounding the pond in the vineyards. While we didn’t quite have a long enough table to surround the pond, we walked the trail and immediately saw her vision — and immediately decided we had to make it come to life.