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Hospices de Beaune
charity auction
The Hospices de Beaune was founded in 1443 as the Hotel Dieu and served as a hospital for the sick and the poor. As a charitable organization it relied on the support of its benefactors, who often donated both money and land in the form of vineyards to the hospital. In 1859, the first auction took place of wines made from the Hospices¡¯ own lands and every year since an auction has been held on the 3rd Sunday on November. It has now become one of the major moments in the Burgundian calendar and marks the launching point for the new vintage.
Donations of some of Burgundy¡¯s greatest vineyards have resulted in the formation of Hospices de Beaune¡¯s exceptional wine estate. This now covers approximately 140 acres, the majority of which are First Growth and Great Growth vineyards such as Batard-Montrachet, Beaune Premier Cru, Corton-Charlemagne, Mazis-Chambertin, Meursault, Pommard, Puilly-Fuisse, Volnay and Clos de la Roche.
On Sunday the 20th of November 2011, 45 different cuvees will be auctioned by Christies auctioneers in Beaune for the 151st Hospices de Beaune auctions (32 cuvees of red wine and 13 cuvees of white wine). The wines are always auctioned by the barrel, each barrel yielding 24 cases of 12 bottles. The wines will then be aged locally for 12-24 months before being bottled into traditional Burgundian bottles and will bear the special labels issued by the Hospices. Information on the label includes appellation, name of cuvee, year, and the name and address of the buyer.
Proceeds from the auction go towards the Hospices de Beaune¡¯s modern health facility, as well as towards 2 nominated medical charities.
Anyone interested in purchasing Burgundy wines En Primeur through the Hospices de Beaune auction should contact Ruby Red for more information.
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