Event – Hospices de Beaune Wine Sale
The not-to-be-missed event in Burgundy in November
Every year, the famous Hospices de Beaune organise a major auction of their most prestigious wines. Throughout the weekend, festivities take place throughout the town (and even in the towns around Beaune) to celebrate Burgundy wines. Numerous wine cellars open their doors to the public (which is quite rare during the rest of the year) to show off their treasures to the curious onlookers passing through, but also to the locals for whom this festival is an unmissable event. Proof of this well-established tradition is that 2023 will be the 163rd Wine Sale, no less!
What is the Hospices Wine Sale?
It is the most famous charity wine sale in the world. Every year, on the third Sunday in November, it’s time for the big auction. Amateurs, professionals, tourists: this traditional event is a highlight in Burgundy. Several crus are put up for sale under Les Halles in the heart of Beaune, including one very special one: the pièce de charité. Each year, it is sold in aid of a charity, and its price can break records. The auction of this important piece is led by one or two celebrities, often actors.
Although the sale is open to the public, it is not necessarily for everyone. The items being auctioned are whole barrels. When you know the price of a bottle of Burgundy wine, that says a lot about how much you have to spend to get one of these precious pieces 🙂
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