Hospices de Beaune's 2010 Auction

With scenes of euphoria greeting the sale of the Presidents’ Barrel and bidding in general more than respectable, the 150th Hospice de Beaune Wine Auction lived up to all expectations.

The Presidents’ Barrel was auctioned by a wildly enthusiastic Fabrice Luchini, who managed to raise the bidding to a record 400,000 euros, shattering the previous record of 200,000 euros. The proceeds from the barrel will go to the cancer charity AVEC and the French Red-Cross.

The average price for a barrel of white wine went up 15.7% to 11,437 euros, while red wine rose by 12.6% to 6,134 euros. The overall total from the auction sale, not including the Presidents’ Barrel, was 4,474,200 euros.

The Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin purchased two barrels of Pommard Epenots Cuvée Dom Goblet in homage to the Château du Clos de Vougeot’s last Cistercian cellarer-monk.