A 228-litre wine cask for rare diseases

A wine cask is not only a measure here; it is also a way to raise money for care. The 166th Hospices de Beaune auction will be held on Sunday 15 November at 14:30 beneath Beaune’s market halls. Sotheby’s is conducting the sale.

The auction traditionally takes place on the third Sunday in November. Proceeds support the upkeep of the Hôtel-Dieu and the wine estate; they are currently also contributing to Beaune’s new hospital building and a new electronic patient record.

A special lot is the Pièce de Charité, also called the Pièce des Présidents. In 2026, its proceeds will support research and care for people with rare diseases. The press release says three million people in France live with a rare disease.

A “pièce” is a Burgundy wine cask of 228 litres. The estate manages 60 hectares of vineyards and lists 53 historic cuvées. The number of casks to be auctioned in 2026 has not yet been announced.

The auction takes place in the Halles de Beaune. The press room is open on Saturday 14 November from 07:45 to 12:30 and on Sunday from 08:00 to 11:30 and from 14:00 until the auction ends. A press conference is scheduled in Paris on 22 October.

The auction thus links a local wine tradition with hospital care and charitable giving. The Commons photographs show the Hôtel-Dieu and Hospices wines; they are not images of the upcoming auction.