Sacha Lichine launches Gstaad Wine & Food Festival for 2027 debut

Château d’Esclans founder Sacha Lichine is set to launch a new four-day wine and gastronomy festival in the Swiss Alps, bringing together leading chefs, winemakers and hospitality figures.

Sacha Lichine, founder of Château d’Esclans and Whispering Angel, has announced the launch of the Gstaad Wine & Food Festival, a new international wine and culinary event which will take place in the Swiss Alps from 24-27 June 2027.

The four-day festival has been conceived by Lichine in collaboration with a group of international figures from the wine, hospitality and culinary sectors. It will bring together winemakers, sommeliers, chefs and other industry professionals through a programme of ticketed tastings, masterclasses, lunches, dinners and private chalet events.

International line-up

The festival’s Culinary Host Committee is expected to include chefs Albert Adrià and Alain Ducasse, who will help shape the inaugural event alongside Lichine and the festival’s international advisory leadership.

Wine experts Jane Anson, Matthew Jukes and Chandra Kurt are also expected to serve as advisors and ambassadors.

Lichine, who is the son of Alexis Lichine and was raised at Château Prieuré-Lichine and Château Lascombes, said the event reflects his experience across the wine trade, from Bordeaux and Burgundy to working as a sommelier and spending time in California with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits as a key account specialist early in his career.

“For me, this is about creating something meaningful and enduring – bringing together great winemakers, chefs and guests in a way that allows for genuine connection and discovery,” said Lichine. “Gstaad offers that rare combination of beauty, discretion and international spirit that makes it unlike anywhere else.”

The organisers expect to welcome more than 1,500 guests to the inaugural edition. The programme is set to feature more than 30 internationally renowned wine producers and more than 20 leading chefs.

Participating wineries confirmed so far include Domaine Henri Boillot of Puligny-Montrachet, Domaine Michelot of Meursault, Château Pontet-Canet, Château d’Esclans and Château Cos d’Estournel. Additional wineries and chefs will be announced in the coming months.

Scholarship fund

To deliver the event, Lichine has partnered with Lee Brian Schrager, founder of the Food Network South Beach and New York City Wine & Food Festival, and culinary strategist Terry Zarikian, alongside an international advisory group spanning wine, gastronomy and hospitality.

“Our goal is to craft an experience that goes beyond the ordinary, inviting guests to indulge in the finest wines and cuisine while connecting on a deeper level with the essence of Gstaad,” said Schrager. “This festival will not only showcase extraordinary culinary talent, but also highlight the unique beauty and charm of the destination, creating something truly unforgettable.”

The festival will be developed in collaboration with Le Grand Bellevue and other Gstaad hospitality businesses. Organisers also confirmed that a portion of proceeds will support a scholarship fund for the next generation of hospitality and culinary professionals.

Further details, including the full line-up of chefs, wineries, programming and ticketing information, will be announced in the coming months.

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