The Hospices de Beaune’s 164th charity wine auction achieved a total of €14,404,200 (£12,040,927) on November 19, 2024. This figure is significantly lower than the previous year’s total of €23,279,800, according to Sotheby’s, the auction co-host.
Despite the reduced overall amount, the average price per barrel increased slightly to €31,540 compared to last year’s €30,839. The drop in revenue can be attributed to fewer barrels being offered this year—438 in total compared to 753 barrels sold in 2023. Willem Schiks, export manager for Maison François Martenot, noted that the lower yield of the 2024 vintage was a significant reason for the decrease in offerings.
Nick Pegna from Sotheby’s characterized the auction’s outcome as “a very good result” despite mixed market conditions. The auction included 51 cuvées sourced from the Hospices’ 60 hectares of vineyards. These wines have now been certified organic as of 2024 after a three-year transition.
The highlight of the auction was the special charity barrel, the Pièce des Présidents, a Premier Cru Beaune 1er Cru Les Bressandes, which sold for a record €360,000. This was a new record for a Premier Cru, although it fell short of the historical record of €810,000 for a Corton Grand Cru at the 2022 auction. Proceeds will support Médecins Sans Frontières and the Global Gift Foundation.
Celebrity involvement included English actor Dominic West and actress Eva Longoria, who participated in the live auction. Their presence was a significant draw, with West making humorous bids to encourage higher offers.
The 2024 vintage faced challenges due to extreme weather conditions, including excessive rainfall and issues with grape rot, affecting overall yields. The Hospices de Beaune estate manager, Ludivine Griveau, described the conditions leading to a harvest of 1.135 million hectoliters, a notable decrease from the previous years. Despite these hurdles, wine industry observers praised the quality of the wines produced in this challenging year.
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