Burgundy’s biggest name in charity auctions had an impressive year, despite a challenging vintage. On Nov. 17, the 164th Hospices de Beaune charity wine auction raised a grand total of $15.2 million to support the Hospices Civils de Beaune hospital network. This is the fourth year the event, the world’s longest-running charity wine auction, has been organized by Sotheby’s.
The event featured plenty of star power, with actors Eva Longoria, Dominic West, Jean Reno and Zabou Breitman taking the podium to lead the bidding on the premier lot. While the auction’s total this year is down from 2023, that reflects a smaller volume of barrels sold.
Eléonore Latour, vice president of Maison Louis Latour, told Wine Spectator that she was proud to buy a barrel of Volnay Santenots Jéhan de Massol—the same cuvée as her family’s first purchase at the auction in 1871. “I’ve always loved this weekend of celebration, where we proudly come together as ‘Bourguignons.’ I was especially moved by the support from other négociants, who applauded when I secured my first barrel—truly a testament to Bourgogne’s values!”
Latour added that she was struck this year by the number of “micro-buyers” from around the world—made possible by a new online bidding platform facilitated by Albert Bichot, a winery that has long been one of the auction’s top supporters.
Less Volume, Higher Value
This year’s sale total was more typical after two years of record totals—$32 million in 2022 and $27.4 million in 2023—that were largely due to large harvests in Burgundy and a high number of lots up for sale. The challenging 2024 vintage saw lower yields, and 305.5 fewer barrels were up for bidding this year compared to 2023.
But the key number at the annual auction is the price per barrel. The average hammer price per barrel of just over $33,000 was up slightly from last year. So while the sale raised less money overall, enthusiasm for the Hospices’ wine remains high.
This year, over 700 participants from 32 countries bid on a total of 447.5 barrels: 321 barrels of red wine, 118.5 of white, seven barrels of eaux-de-vie and the signature Presidents’ Barrel. Like last year, 51 cuvées were up for grabs, and the whites again proved especially popular. After the Presidents’ Barrel, the top lots were three barrels of Bâtard-Montrachet, Cuvée Dames de Flandres, which sold for over $372,000 each—a new record for the wine.
Mounir Saoma, a longtime supporter of the auction who makes wine in Burgundy and the Rhône, told Wine Spectator that this year, “it was a real auction” with genuine excitement—and surprise—throughout the bidding. Whereas in some years barrels from the same part of Burgundy sell for a similar price, “this year there were big differences inside every cru,” he said, with many barrels going for unexpected prices.
Celebrity Star Power
In Hospices tradition, the highlight of the auction was the Presidents’ Barrel, a special barrel of Beaune premier cru Les Bressandes that sold for over $377,000, with the bidding cheered on by West, Longoria, Reno and Breitman.
This year, proceeds from the barrel will support the Global Gift Foundation and Doctors Without Borders, which will use the funds for a new project combating dengue fever in Honduras. “This cause is particularly close to my heart as a Brazilian. Unfortunately, we are all too familiar with this scourge, so I was naturally delighted to make my contribution to this Médecins Sans Frontières project,” said Alaor Pereira Lino, owner of Anima Vinum in Brazil and the top bidder.
Adding to the excitement around the special lot was a surprise pledge of nearly $105,000 after the hammer. Francine Picard, of Domaines Famille Picard, announced that she was so moved by the Global Gift Foundation’s video about its work on the morning of the sale that she felt compelled to donate to the cause.
2024: A Challenging Year in Burgundy
The 2024 growing season was a difficult one across Burgundy, with notably low yields compared to recent years. It was also the first year the Hospices’ 150 acres of vineyards were certified organic.
Estate manager Ludivine Griveau, who joined the Hospices as chief winemaker in 2015, said in a statement that the vintage was challenging, but highly rewarding. “Just as the road to our organic certification was being mapped out, this vintage forced us to follow a trajectory that, while fluctuating, was, in hindsight, exciting. Robustness, tenacity and commitment were the cornerstones of this extraordinary experience.”
Saoma shared her enthusiasm: “2024 in the Hospices was a great success. I tasted the wines six times between fermentation and the auction, and Ludivine did a great job. The wines are pure, deep and classy.”
For her part, Latour is also optimistic about the vintage, despite the low yields. “The 2024 vintage is impressive, with both reds and whites showing beautiful concentration and aromatic richness despite a challenging year.”