Seven hundred people gathered for the sale in Burgundy to witness the auction for the historic wine Hospices de Beaune sale in Burgundy. Produced from a special plot and sold to benefit Doctors Without Borders and the Global Gift Foundation of America. After reaching 360.000 euros, the barrel was purchased by Alaor Pereira Lino of Anima Vinum in Brazil. But the excitement didn't stop there. In a surprise twist, a member of the public added to the excitement once the hammer fell, donating an additional €100.000 to the cause the barrel's sale supported.
Having participated in the wine sales of theHospices of Beaune For nearly a quarter of a century, Mr. Pereira Lino, the owner of a leading winery in Brazil, has been an ambassador for Burgundy wines in his homeland, where he has created an entire museum dedicated to the Hospices de Beaune – the only place in the world where a complete archive of his wines can be found. With Doctors Without Borders providing funding for a highly innovative project to fight dengue fever in Honduras, Mr. Pereira Lino said: “This cause is particularly close to my heart as a Brazilian. Unfortunately, we all know this scourge all too well, so I was naturally happy to contribute to this Doctors Without Borders project.”
The oldest charity auction in the world
This year has been a very special year in the long history of Hospices as it marks the first time that thecompany presents certified organic wines – a fitting tribute to the Hospices Civils de Beaune’s “One Health” mission to promote health and the environment at the heart of everything it does. The wine specially chosen for the charitable cask, “Beaune 1er Cru, Les Bressandes” was usually produced from a single plot within the estate selected for four other cuvées (Nicolas Rolin, Guigone de Salins, Dames Hospitalières and Brunetta). Appreciation for the wines and pioneering achievements of the Hospices de Beaune was evident throughout the day, with a record number of pre-sale registrants and bidders from 32 countries, an increase of almost 40% over the 2023 sale. The 449-lot auction brought in a grand total of €14.404.200 / $15.183.722 (a grand total of €15,5 million / $16,3 million). Presiding over the sale were Aurélie Vandevoorde and Pierre Mothes of Sotheby's, who have had the privilege of supporting the Hospices de Beaune for the past four years.
