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Results are just in for the 150th Hospices de Beaune Auction, with 5,132,075 Million Euros raised for Charity and a record  400,000 Euro record price for "La Piece Des Presidents. Sales to Europeans and Asians accounted for 9.7.5% of the sale. 

Christie's organized the sale and also tastings of the wines of the Hospices Beaune all over the world. This year Christie’s wanted to look towards China, where Burgundy wines have yet to establish their reputation. A series of dinners and tastings took place in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. During the 150th sale, Asia became the second most important region, after Europe, for its number of registered bidders, and the value of wines acquired, over-taking the USA. Europe accounted for 85.5% of the sale ( by value), Asia 12.5%, USA 1.6%.

SMALLER AMOUNT IN 2010

This year the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune was offering a smaller amount of wine: 543 barrels of red wine and 100 of white wine. A new cuvée was added – Santenay Cuvée Christine Friedberg. The sale featured 32 cuvées of red wine and 13 of white.

François Curiel, Chairman of Christie’s Asia with François de Ricqlès, Chairman of Christie’s France and Emmanuelle Vidal-Delagneau, Christie’s France Business Director conducted the auction. Over 300 clients competed fiercely, bringing about an almost equal total to the 2009 record (€5.4 million) – in spite of there being 156 fewer barrels in the sale.

The purpose of the auction is to raise money for the hospital of Beaune, which long ago was in the church (recreation above) and now the money is raised for the hospital.

The entire village turns out for the festivities for the auction, with hotel workers donning traditional garb, and people performing organized traditional style dancing in the streets. All the restaurants in Beaune were full on Saturday, and many at our hotel were attending the Clos de Vougeot dinner (I could hear them coming back at 2am).

The auction continues to be one of the most exciting events this city offers each year.
 

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