Discover the secrets of the Hospices de Beaune auction with Albert Bichot
A historic event in the heart of Bourgogne
The medieval origins of the Hospices de Beaune: a legacy of hospitality and winegrowing
Founded in 1443 by the chancellor Nicolas Rolin and his wife Guigone de Salins, the Hospices de Beaune were born against a backdrop of crisis. The Hundred Years' War, famines and the Black Death left the population bereft. This refuge for the most destitute quickly became a symbol of charity and social innovation. But the hospital's work was also accompanied by a considerable wine-growing legacy: over the centuries, numerous donors gave up vines as offerings. In this way, an extraordinary wine-growing estate was built up from one donation to the next.
The evolution of the auction since 1859: between tradition and modernity
The first Hospices de Beaune wine auction took place in 1859. Since then, it has taken place every third Sunday in November, without interruption. For a long time reserved for a restricted circle of Burgundy wine merchants, the sale gradually opened up to the world. Candlelight auctions, a picturesque legacy of the 19th century, have given way to more modern systems, without losing any of their solemnity. The auctioneer's hammer now rings out in a theater where tradition and innovation meet with panache.
The sale's emblematic role in Beaune's cultural and economic life
More than just a wine sale, the event infuses Beaune with a singular energy. For three days, the town comes alive with public tastings, costume parades, concerts and gala banquets. The sale is a high point in the local calendar, a moment of shared effervescence. It stimulates tourism, mobilizes wine professionals and attracts collectors, the curious and patrons of the arts. A parallel economy weaves itself around the event, combining crafts, gastronomy and heritage.
The event's place in the international wine-lovers' calendar
From Tokyo to New York, the Hospices de Beaune auction enjoys a singular aura. It embodies French winemaking excellence and philanthropy. Its prestige is such that it has become a not-to-be-missed event for collectors and investors from all over the world. Every year, connoisseurs scrutinize the auction results, which are regarded as a barometer of the market for grands crus. This reputation contributes to establishing Burgundy as a land of oenological legends.
An auction that's unique in the world: when wine meets generosity
The principle of charity sales: a model of commitment to solidarity
Unlike other prestige sales, the Hospices charity sale is resolutely altruistic. The profits generated do not pay dividends. They support the Beaune hospital in all its dimensions. Every auction becomes an act of philanthropy.
The 52 cuvées of the Hospices: exceptional wines from a prestigious winegrowing estate
The Hospices estate covers almost 60 hectares, exclusively classified as Premier Cru and Grand Cru. The cuvées are named after the donors of the plots from which they originate, or historical figures such as founders Nicolas Rolin and Guigone de Salins. All the wines come from terroirs of unprecedented richness: Pommard, Corton, Meursault, Mazis-Chambertin... These wines are vinified with precision by the Hospices régisseur, in search of purity and elegance. Each barrel represents a unique entity, a fragment of our heritage.
Sales organization: trading houses, individual buyers and international bidders
The sale is based on a well-oiled machine. Individuals can bid, but the bottling and ageing must be entrusted to wine merchants. Among them, our house Albert Bichot has played a central role as number 1 buyer for 30 years. We help our customers select the wines best suited to their tastes, then carefully age them in our cellars until bottling.
Celebrity involvement and media coverage of the sale
Each year, a charity barrel - the Pièce des Présidents - is sold to benefit a specific cause. Sponsored by celebrities from the worlds of art, sport and culture, it generates considerable media interest. Cameras roll in, bids soar and emotions run high. This spectacular dimension reinforces the event's resonance far beyond oenophile circles.
Behind the scenes: the art and know-how of auctioneering
The work of the Hospices de Beaune winemaker (Ludivine Griveau since 2015): tailor-made vinification of great terroirs
Since 2015, Ludivine Griveau has embodied the winemaking soul of Les Hospices. The first woman to lead the estate's vinifications, she strives to reveal the identity of each plot with rigor and intuition. The grapes are harvested by hand, the sorting is severe and the vinification meticulous. Her approach, at the crossroads of tradition and fine analysis, produces racy, well-balanced wines with remarkable ageing potential. Each vintage bears her signature: a sensitive reading of the climate and soils.
Prior tasting: how Albert Bichot evaluates vintages and wines for our customers
Prior to sale, the wines are tasted en primeur. At Albert Bichot, this crucial stage involves ou team of winemakers and Jean-David Camus. Color, nose, texture, length on the palate: everything is scrutinized. The aim is not only to assess intrinsic quality, but also the wine's potential for development. The purchase is then made blind, with the sole certainty of the terroir, the vinification and the accuracy of the interpretation. A delicate exercise, between science and intuition.
Discover the latest Hospices de Beaune vintages
The art of bidding: strategy, emotion and prestige in the auction room
Inside Les Halles de Beaune, the silence is intense, the glances tense. Every auction is a game of tension. Strategy comes into play: wait, surprise, accelerate. Emotions rise to the surface: a desired wine, a coveted piece. Prestige too: the great houses engage in elegant jousting. The hammers fall, the applause resounds. A barrel is awarded, a page is written.
Buying at the Hospices de Beaune sale is a lasting commitment, between transmission and heritage.
Investing in time: buying a Hospices wine, between passion and heritage
Buying a Hospices wine is a long-term investment. Because of their rarity and nobility, these wines age gracefully. They are passed on, shared and opened at key moments. But it's also a patrimonial investment: certain vintages gain in value year after year. The bottle becomes a witness, an act of memory and emotion. Discover all Hospices de Beaune wines.
An unmissable event that combines wine, history and humanity
The Hospices de Beaune wine auction is more than a simple transaction. It's a ritual where wine celebrates humanity, where history marries the present. Each vintage is a story, each bid a heartfelt gesture. In the murmur of the barrels, in the sparkle of the raised glass, resounds a fidelity to excellence and generosity. A rendez-vous where Burgundy offers the world the best of itself.
Buy at the next Hospices auction
from just 1 bottle, exclusively with Albert Bichot
ONLINE PURCHASE OF 2 WHITE OR 3 RED WINES
SELECTED BY ALBERT BICHOT
CUSTOM LABEL OPTIONAL
Buy a full barrel (288 bottles)
or a fraction at the next
Hospices de Beaune auction
51 EXCEPTIONNAL WINES TO CHOOSE FROM
DEDICATED CUSTOMER SERVICE
FROM JUST 72 BOTTLES (1/4 BARREL)
LIVE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE