Hospices de Beaune 2022

Hospices de Beaune is the most famous charitable wine auction in the world. It begins with three days of festivities with Burgudian tradition. Numerous activities punctuate this festive weekend: street shows, folkloric parade, gastronomic village and half-marathon through the streets and vineyards of Beaune. The large wine merchant houses of Beaune compete in creativity and organize prestigious tastings: wines of the Hospices, rare vintages, appellations from all over Burgundy and themed or gourmet tastings are all on the programme. In Beaune and on its vineyard area, winemakers offer tastings of older or more recent vintages in their cellars.

High point of the weekend, it is henceforward organized by Sotheby’s and unfolds on the Sunday afternoon in the market hall of the Halles de Beaune. The wines offered for sale, from a wine domain made up of donations and bequests over more than 500 years, count for more than 60 hectares (150 acres) of vines and of which the majority is classified in Grand Crus and Premier Crus. This charitable wine auction acts as an international barometer for the prestigious wine market and brings together Beaune’s large merchant houses and buyers from the whole World. However, by dint of its charitable vocation, the prices of wines generally go far beyond normal market levels.

The proceeds from the auction are used for the conservation of the heritage and medical structures of the Hospices. After the wine auction, a grand candle-lit dinner is arranged in the medieval setting of the Bastion of the Hôtel Dieu.

A family-owned and independent Maison since 1831, Albert Bichot is a major patron in the preservation of Burgundian culture and heritage. “Buying from the Hospices de Beaune is a tradition as much as it is a commitment”, says Albéric Bichot, 6th generation of the family and born at the Hospices de Beaune himself.

Albert Bichot has been the first buyer of the Hospices de Beaune wine auction for more than 25 years now. It has been the case again this year with the acquisition of 112 barrels for an amount of €4,984,000 (17.3% of the total amount of the sale) which is a historic record in the history of the house. Albéric Bichot declares: “We are delighted with this exceptional sale which will finance the major reconstruction projects of the Beaune Hospital”.

Albert Bichot USA is represented by 2-3 team members, including Jim Opalka, President, along with a handful of high profile buyers.

Limited quantities of wine purchased by Albert Bichot are available in the U.S.