Eva Longoria, Jean Reno, Dominic West, and Zabou Breitman captivated the 700 buyers present at the Hospices de Beaune wine auction, driving the bidding for the “Pièce des Présidents”—sold in support of two charitable organizations—to an impressive €460,000.
This marks one of the highest totals ever achieved for the Hospices de Beaune, which showcased its first fully certified organic vintage.
BEAUNE, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2024 – The world’s oldest wine auction celebrated its 164th edition yesterday, reaching a remarkable €14.4 million ($15.2 million). Among the highlights, the charity lot, known as the “Pièce des Présidents”, fetched €460,000, driven by the star power of Eva Longoria, Jean Reno, Dominic West, and Zabou Breitman, who inspired 700 bidders to contribute generously. The proceeds from the auction benefit two charities: Médecins Sans Frontières and the Global Gift Foundation.
A 228-liter barrel was sold for €360,000 to Alaor Pereira Lino, representing the Brazilian company Anima Vinum. Unexpectedly, a member of the audience pledged an additional €100,000 to support the causes.
Francine Picard of Domaines Famille Picard expressed her emotional connection with the event, stating, “For the first time, I attended the morning press conference and was deeply moved by the Global Gift Foundation’s video. Supporting this cause felt like a natural decision.” Her contribution helped boost the charity total to €460,000, marking a 30% increase over last year.
Record-Breaking Auction and First Organic Vintage
This year’s auction presented the first fully organic vintage, managed by Ludivine Griveau and her team. The sale featured 51 cuvées, including 33 red wines, 18 whites, and seven spirits, totaling 447.5 barrels.
Highlights included a record-breaking sale of a Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru for €355,000. The average hammer price per barrel rose to €31,540, reflecting growing interest from a global audience, with bidders from 32 countries contributing to a nearly 40% increase in participation compared to 2023. The sale was led by Sotheby’s auctioneers Aurélie Vandevoorde and Pierre Mothes, who have collaborated with the Hospices de Beaune for four years.
Benefiting Charity Causes
Funds from the *Pièce des Présidents* support Médecins Sans Frontières’ innovative dengue prevention project in Honduras, a pressing issue for many in tropical regions, including Brazil. The Global Gift Foundation will use proceeds to expand its Casa Ángeles facility in Marbella, Spain, and to aid families in Valencia affected by natural disasters.
Sustainability and Future Goals
The Hospices Civils de Beaune are reinvesting the auction’s revenue into healthcare infrastructure, including a new building to replace outdated facilities from 1971. This aligns with their “One Health” approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, environmental, and plant health.
Guillaume Koch, chairman of the Hospices Civils de Beaune, praised the success of this year’s auction, saying, “It’s a reward for our team’s efforts, especially in the challenging conditions of our first organic production year.”
The Hospices de Beaune wine auction, a cultural highlight of Burgundy’s annual *”Les Trois Glorieuses”* weekend, continues to attract wine enthusiasts worldwide.