The 165th charity wine auction of the Hospices de Beaune was held on November 16, 2025, featuring Burgundy’s promising 2025 vintage. This event raised a staggering €18,754,670 (approximately $21.5 million), marking the third highest revenue in the auction’s history, surpassing last year’s total by over €4.3 million. Sotheby’s, which co-hosted the auction, noted that this success follows the records set in 2022 and 2023.
The auction comprised 539 lots, including 428 barrels of 34 red wines and 111 barrels of 18 white wines, with an average price of €33,930 per barrel. This figure represents a 4.6% increase over the previous year and continues a trend where the average price has exceeded €30,000 for five consecutive years.
A notable highlight this year was the increase in prices for white wines, with the average barrel costing a remarkable €58,580. Exceptional sales included two barrels of Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cuvée Dames de Flandres, which sold for €400,000 each—a record price for this type of white Grand Cru. Similarly, the Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru Cuvée François de Salins fetched €155,000.
The Pièce des Présidents, a prestigious auction lot, also achieved a record price of €400,000 for a Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens, matching the highest price ever paid for a Premier Cru in its category.
The winning bid came from Li Zhongliang, an entrepreneur based in Beijing, aligning with the charitable causes supported by the auction: Enfance et Handicap en Côte-d’Or (EHCO), which develops AI tools for children with disabilities, and The Robert-Debré Child Brain Institute. This year’s auction saw spirited competition among over 370 bidders, drawn both in-person and online, with prominent figures from French cinema and music supporting the event.
The 2025 growing season for the wines was characterized by climatic extremes, impacting yields but ultimately resulting in high-quality grapes. Winemaker Ludivine Griveau-Gemma described the season as demanding yet well-managed through organic practices and careful sorting.
This auction weekend also saw enhanced public engagement, with a new online booking system introduced for a wine tasting event held in Hospices’ historic cellars. Attendance was strong, indicating a growing interest in Burgundy wines. Additionally, culinary offerings and musical festivities contributed to the event’s celebratory atmosphere.
The event marked a vibrant blend of polished buyers and local culture, providing attendees with a rich experience of Burgundy’s wine heritage while successfully fundraising for charitable causes.