22nd of January 1938. Chambolle-Musigny hosts the first completely restored Saint-Vincent Tournante.

Ancient brotherhoods from several of the surrounding villages leapt at this chance to dust off their effigies of St Vincent and participate in the procession, surrounded by the wine-growers from their villages, followed by the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin’s own statue of St Vincent (the work of fellow member Charles Toussaint), carried by serving Chevaliers and flanked by dignitaries in ceremonial dress.

Canon Krau, the parish priest of Vosne Romanée and Grand Chaplain of the Tastevin delivered the first of four memorable sermons.

What had been intended as a trial run proved to be a great success, and it was immediately acknowledged that this revival of an old custom had surpassed everyone’s expectations.

The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin came up with the idea of a Saint-Vincent Tournante : literally a revolving Feast of St Vincent. Every year, a different wine-growing village would host the Feast of St Vincent and welcome brotherhoods and mutual aid associations from all over Burgundy.

Since the annual meetings of village mutual aid associations usually took place on the 22nd of January, it was decided that the Saint-Vincent Tournante should be held the week after, usually the last, or last before one, week-end in January.

28th of January 1939. Vosne-Romanée hosts the second Saint-Vincent festival restored by the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.

The celebrations were still more imposing than in 1938. The number of participating St Vincent associations had grown, and the religious service was led by the bishop of Dijon. Three hundred diners sat down to an unforgettable pork banquet in the Caveau Nuiton.

The impetus was now underway for the Feast of St Vincent to go on moving from village to village.

September 1939 : war is declared.

22nd of January 1940. The town of  Nuits-Saint-Georges had become an important centre of military activity, sheltering the staff headquarters of the Armée des Alpes within its walls.

The Confrérie marked the Feast of St Vincent but the celebrations were muted. In solemn mood, a religious service was held in the ancient church of Saint-Symphorien in the presence of a number of famous generals. Places were set for 50 at the Hotel de la Croix Blanche but the dinner was without pomp or ceremony. The hopes and the achievements of the past two years were temporarily put to one side.

However and in spite of the war, St Vincent was not forgotten, and for the next four years, the faithful assembled on the 22nd of January in the Chapel of the Hospice de Nuits-Saint-Georges, to pray for better days, and piously keep alight the flame which had shone so bright at Chambolle-Musigny and Vosne-Romanée.