Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction Raises €18.4 Million, Third-Highest Total in Event’s 164-Year History

The annual charity wine auction at the Hospices de Beaune in Burgundy, France, drew international attention this past Sunday, with Asian buyers playing a key role in supporting sales. The event, which has taken place since 1859, did not break new records this year but still achieved the third-highest result in its history. The auction raised 18.384 million euros before fees, a figure well below the 29 million euro peak reached in 2022 but significantly higher than last year’s total of 13.94 million euros.

Guillaume Koch, director of the Hospices de Beaune, described the outcome as “a magnificent sale” after nearly six hours of bidding. The highlight of the auction was the sale of the “pièce de charité,” a 228-liter barrel of wine that serves as the centerpiece of the event. This year, a Chinese buyer secured the lot for 400,000 euros after a close contest with a Brazilian bidder. While this price did not match the record 810,000 euros set in 2022, it surpassed last year’s result of 360,000 euros and demonstrated growing international interest.

Organizers expanded their outreach this year by hosting tastings in six new cities: Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Copenhagen, Jakarta, Madrid and São Paulo. Marie-Anne Ginoux, managing director of Sotheby’s France—which has managed the auction for five years—said these efforts helped attract a record number of potential buyers. In total, representatives from 32 countries were present among the 700 registered bidders in the auction hall.

The auction’s results reflect broader trends in the global wine market. While demand from China has slowed and U.S. sales have been affected by increased tariffs, emerging markets in Asia have shown strong interest. Laurent Delaunay, president of the Burgundy Wine Board, noted that for the first time in years, Burgundy wine sales declined in August in the United States. He attributed this drop to higher American taxes on imported wines.

Despite these challenges, organizers remain optimistic about international demand. The wines sold at Beaune are “en primeur,” meaning they will not be delivered until June 2027 after aging locally in Burgundy. This tradition allows buyers to invest early in sought-after vintages while supporting charitable causes.

The Hospices de Beaune auction is considered one of the most prestigious events in the wine world and serves as a barometer for market trends. This year’s results suggest that while established markets face headwinds, new buyers from Asia and other regions are helping to sustain interest and prices for Burgundy wines.