THERE WILL BE NOT JUST ONE, BUT FIVE FAMOUS AUCTIONEERS FOR THE HOSPICES DE BEAUNE AUCTION. VIRGINIE LEDOYEN, KHATIA, VALÉRIE BONNETON, CLAUDE LELOUCH AND EDDY MITCHELL WILL BE GUESTS OF HONOR AT THE "VENTE DES VINS", WITH CHRISTIE'S (NOVEMBER 20TH)

There will be not just one, but five famous auctioneers for the Hospices de Beaune. The actresses Virginie Ledoyen and Valérie Bonneton, the pianist Khatia, the director Claude Lelouch and the singer Eddy Mitchell will be the guests of honor at Hospices de Beaune (www.hospice-beaune.com), one of the symbols of Burgundy, for the historic "Vente des vins" taking place on November 20th.
Surprisingly, despite the April frosts that seriously damaged Burgundy vineyards, the 156th edition of Hospices, the oldest "charity" auction of wines in the world, together with Christie's, which has been responsible for auction sales since 2005, will auction off more wine than in 2015: 596 "pièces" (228 liter barrels), 126 of white and 470 of red wine, 47 Cuvée, for a total of 21 more than last year (the record was 761 barrels in 2011).
There will also be a new white wine, Corton Grand Cru Cuvée Docteur Peste (a vineyard plot of Pinot Noir replanted in Chardonnay).
The top lot, "Pièce du Président" (one of the traditional 228 liter barrels with the Cuvée des Présidents, Grand Cru Corton Bressandes 2016. In 2015 it sold for a record sum of 480.000 euros, ed.) will also go under the hammer. This year proceeds will be in favor of the Fondation Coeur et Recherches, which supports cardiovascular research, and Arc Foundation for cancer research.
The history of the Hospices de Beaune started in the fifteenth century, when men and women in the territory began to bequeath their properties to the institution. In Burgundy, of course, nothing neither then but also now, was more valuable than vineyards, and the approximately 60 hectares of vines (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) the Hospices own are the reflection of half a millennium of generosity.
Since 1859, its history is revived through the common thread of "Vente des vins des Hospices de Beaune", which auctions a high level quality production and starting in 1945, proceeds of the "Pièce du Président" lot have been in favor of one or more foundations. 88% of the Hospices vineyards is classified Premier Cru and Grand Cru from Auxey-Duresses, Beaune, Meursault, Monthélie, Pommard, Pernand-Vergelesses, Chassagne-Montrachet, Savigny-lès-Beaune , Volnay, Santenay and Saint Romain, carried out by over 20 vignerons coordinated by the winemaker Ludivine Griveau.

Info: www.hospices-de-beaune.com