Hospices de Beaune, Burgundy, France

Hospices de Beaune in the Burgundy region of France offers an annual wine auction focused on charity. CHRISTIE’S HOUSE also participates with Hospices de Beaune. This year, the 154th auction of the wines, will take place on Sunday, November 16.

The Hospices de Beaune was built in 1843 when the people in the area were suffering from the 100 Years War. Nicolas Rolin and his wife Guigone de Salins built the large complex to help the suffering.

Eventually vineyards in the Beaune area were donated to the Hospices de Beaune. Other vineyards  farther north in Côte de Nuits have also been donated. Currently Hospices de Beaune owns close to 60 hectares of vineyards. Today they have about 50 hectares of Pinot Noir and the rest is Chardonnay. These vineyards are classified as Premier and Grand Crus.

In 1851 the Hospices de Beaune began to auction the wines from these vineyards. Thereafter the auction has taken place on the 3rd Sunday of November.

Those interested in the auction can attend the event in person. Bidders who cannot attend the auction can bid by phone or internet.

According to the Hospices de Beaune website (translated): “The funds raised from the sale are intended to charity Hospices de Beaune: improving care equipment, modernization of infrastructure and preservation of historical monuments, including the Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune. Moreover, since 1945, the annual Hospices support one or more charities.”

Last year we visited the famed Hospices de Beaune, once a home for the indigent but now a historic property. The current building has a collection of dioramas that show how people were treated while in the facility.

Cheers,
Kathy