Three renowned French personalities from the worlds of cinema and music will sponsor the 165th wine auction (link) on November 16.
This year, 539 barrels from the 2025 vintage will go under the hammer, including the brand-new Cuvée François Faiveley — a Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru donated to the Hospices de Beaune to mark the 200th anniversary of the Nuit-Saint-Georges-based Maison. It is the 52nd Cuvée in the estate’s history.
The 2025 Vintage — Why Not?
The harvest began on August 22 for the whites and August 25 for the reds, in order to preserve freshness before the rains. Despite sometimes challenging conditions, the grapes maintained excellent quality. As a result, 2025 offers wines with a dual personality.
- Whites: perfect ripeness with beautiful acidity.
- Reds: deep color, supple tannins, and remarkable freshness.
Low yields have been confirmed — no surprise there. But the quality is undeniably present in this two-sided vintage.
As Ludivine Griveau, Estate Manager of the Hospices de Beaune vineyard, points out: “We are extremely proud to offer 539 barrels at the 165th Wine Auction on November 16.”
The sale will feature 110 Pièces (128l barrels) and 2 feuillettes of white wines, 428 barrels of red wines, as well as barrels of Marc de Bourgogne and Fine de Bourgogne, all of which are expected to attract keen interest from buyers.
The Charity Barrel, known as the “Presidents’ Barrel”: Pommard Premier Cru Les Rugiens
The highlight of the auction, the Pièce des Présidents, is this year a Pommard Premier Cru, Les Rugiens. Three French personalities, including musician Martin Solveig (link) and filmmaker Cédric Klapisch (link), will attend to support this charity sale benefiting two organizations dedicated to children.
To age this unique wine, a special and one-of-a-kind vessel was required. The barrel that will hold this wine was provided by La Manufacture Tonnelière La Grange (link), founded in 2016 by Sylvain Charlois as a tribute to oak and the craft of barrel-making, two symbols of French excellence. For this Presidents’ Barrel, the finest staves were selected from the Bertranges forest and seasoned for 36 months in the open air, stacked in a specific “chimney” arrangement to ensure very even maturation of the oak. This unique creation was crafted on September 29, 2025, by Mr. Dany Devilette – Cooper.
EHCO, Childhood and Disability in Côte-d’Or
EHCO (link) is a solidarity-based association that has been active in Côte-d’Or for over 85 years, chaired by Jean-Paul Durand. Born from the merger of Les Papillons Blancs de Beaune and the Association Beaunoise de Protection de l’Enfance, it works to support children, adults, and families affected by disability or hardship. Each day, it supports 800 people thanks to 500 professionals and 20 facilities. Its mission: to protect, include, and innovate for a fairer society. Deeply rooted in the local community yet open to innovation, EHCO connects generations, institutions, and citizens.
On the occasion of the 2025 Wine Auction, the association is leading a project that combines progress, humanity, inclusion, and dignity at work:
- Restoring voice, emotion, and autonomy to people with autism
- Easing physical strain and preserving strength in the vineyards
Robert-Debré Institute for the Child’s Brain
One in six children suffers from neurodevelopmental disorders (autism, intellectual disability, dys disorders, attention disorders with or without hyperactivity); one in five struggles with learning difficulties; and one in five lives below the poverty line.
It is to address these major public health challenges that the Robert-Debré Institute (link) for the Child’s Brain was created. A true crossroads between research, medicine, and education, this new institute has a clear ambition: to revolutionize the understanding of the brain in order to improve children’s developmental paths and support their health, education, and well-being.
- Creating a cohort of 4,000 children for earlier detection and personalized support
The Robert-Debré Institute for the Child’s Brain is launching an unprecedented project in France: to follow 4,000 children from birth over a period of nine years.
- Innovation: a key asset for better detection and individualized care
This project will rely on cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI). These tools will help better predict each child’s individual trajectory, enabling more targeted, earlier, and better-adapted interventions to meet their specific needs.
As Guillaume Koch, Chairman of the Management Board of the Hospices Civils de Beaune, emphasizes, the proceeds from the Auction directly support hospital projects: modernization of facilities, medical innovation, and the provision of humane and accessible healthcare services.
