History
The Hospices de Beaune, also known as the “Hotel Dieu”, is a former hospital for the poor, which was created by Nicolas Rolin in 1443. The original hospital building is now a museum, as medical care is now provided in a modern and well-equipped building.
In 1457, Jean Guillotte le Verrier was the first to donate vineyards to the Hotel Dieu, to repay the hospital for having cured him of a disease. This tradition continued through the centuries and still exists today! Doing so is a way for patients and their families to thank this institution, ensure qualitative treatments and long term business continuity. It’s also a way to be part of history as all donors have their family names written on the ‘Cuvee’ which they donated (E.g. Meursault Charmes Premier Cru Cuvée “Albert Grivault”).
Today
The Domaine of the Hospices de Beaune owns 60 hectares of vineyards, of which 50 hectares are red wine appellations (Pinot Noir only) and 10 hectares are white wine appellations. 85% of the Domaine’s appellations are ‘Premier Cru’ and ‘Grand Cru’.
Mrs Ludivine Griveau has been a winemaker since 2016. She implemented an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach with the vineyard to express the typicity of each of the ‘terroirs’ and ‘climates’.
The Auction
The Charity Auction has been taking place every 3rd Sunday in November since 1859. This auction is part of a 3-day festival called “Les Trois Glorieuses” which includes a dinner in Clos Vougeot and a lunch at “La Paulée” in Meursault.
The aim of this auction is to sell all the barrels from the Domaine of the Hospices de Beaune ‘en primeur’ (harvested a few months prior to the auction) and raise money for the non-profit organisation of the Hospices de Beaune and a few selected non-profit organisations.
Only wine professionals can attend the auction and place orders on behalf of their clients.
Hospices de Nuits
The Nuits-Saint-Georges hospital was created 2 centuries before the Beaune hospital, in 1270. The Hospices de Nuits works exactly the same as the one in Beaune, combining medical activities and a wine estate. Even if the Domaine of the Hospices de Nuits is less well-known, it’s just as prestigious as Hospices de Beaune!
The Domaine owns 13 hectares of vineyards, mainly located in Côte de Nuits. 18 appellations are red wines (Pinot Noir), “Village” and Premier Cru” appellations and 1 appellation is white wine (Chardonnay) Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru “Les Terres Blanches”. Jean Marc Moron is the winemaker for the estate, making fabulous wines every year!
The auction always takes place on the 3rd Sunday of March at the Clos Vougeot.
It’s a not-to-be-missed event for all Burgundy fine wine lovers, where they will be able to acquire through a ‘negociant acheteur’, barrels of their favourite Côte de Nuits appellations.
The money raised during the auction will allow the winemaking hospital to take care of its patients, building and wine estate.
Why buy at the Hospices de Beaune/Hospices de Nuits auction:
- Prestigious wines
- Unique
- Quality and scarcity of wines
- “En Primeur” wines at best price
- Tailor-made service (clients will be able to customise their bottle size (bottle/magnum/Jeroboam), their labels (adding their names or company names etc.)
Why buy with One B Wine:
- 35 years of experience and a tailor-made process for our clients.
- One B Wine (under the name of Natacha Voland) is a well recognised ‘Negociant Acheteur’ at the Hospices de Beaune. We buy, on average every year, 30 barrels on behalf of our clients.