The Hospices de Beaune is a charitable hospital founded in 1443, whose glazed polychrome roof is the emblem of Burgundy. Over the centuries donors left it vineyards, and it now owns some sixty hectares of mostly premier and grand cru land. Each November the new vintage is auctioned by the barrel for the hospital's benefit, with a single pièce des présidents sold for a nominated charity at a price that has nothing to do with wine.
The sale has run since 1859 and is the price signal the Burgundy trade reads for the vintage.
What is published is the money, not the attendance: results in euros per barrel, per cuvée. The sale room is restricted. We therefore record no attendance figure, which is the honest position rather than a gap.
It is anchored to the third Sunday of November and sits inside the Trois Glorieuses weekend. Beaune's hotels are committed a year ahead for it.
PlanningAnchored to the third Sunday of November, inside the Trois Glorieuses weekend.