Society & Culture
Donae Burston is a luxury wine & spirits leader with over 20 years of industry experience.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Donae achieved a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Mathematics from Clark Atlanta University in 1998. He concurrently completed a second degree in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech before beginning his career in the information technology sector, initially consulting on Healthcare Systems. In 2001, Donae entered the alcohol industry, working on the promotional side of several iconic brands in the US, before joining the luxury group LVMH. During his 10+ years with the company, he worked across brands such as Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Moet & Chandon, Belvedere Vodka, and Hennessy Cognac. While with LVMH, in 2011, Donae created the first-ever luxury champagne bar in a sports arena at American Airlines Arena during the Miami Heat's championship run. In 2016, Donae became the Regional Director of the Southeast US, Caribbean, and Latin America regions of Armand de Brignac Champagne. He was responsible for the brand's commercial and marketing goals in each territory.
Throughout his career, Donae found that, in general, the wine industry was not embracing the multicultural consumer. He wanted to create a quality product inspired by his zest for life and travel that homed in on catering to the margin that had been overlooked, particularly when it came to rosé. With a commitment to creating an authentic and exceptional St. Tropez rosé and breaking tradition and convention by reimagining the luxury wine drinker and energizing the category, in summer 2019, La Fête du Rosé - a brand that speaks to all demographics - was born. The name "La Fête" translates to "the rosé party," one that everyone is invited. In 2021, the company introduced a limited-release white wine - La Fête du Blanc - which became a permanent addition to the portfolio in 2022. Under Donae's leadership, La Fête du Rosé was the fastest-growing luxury imported rosé label of 2021 and is now the #3 luxury imported rosé brand in the US, according to IRI.
Since its inception, La Fête has donated a portion of the proceeds from every bottle sold to various programs that send underrepresented youth on unique travel experiences and organizations focused on creating opportunities for the BIPOC community in the wine and spirits industry.
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