Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction 2026

The Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction is one of the oldest and most prestigious charity wine auctions in the world. Held on the third Sunday of November each year, it is the centrepiece of Les Trois Glorieuses — three days of celebrations that bring the global wine community to the medieval town of Beaune in the heart of Burgundy.

Les Trois Glorieuses — Three Glorious Days

The weekend begins on Saturday evening with a gala dinner hosted by the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin at the Chateau du Clos de Vougeot, one of Burgundy's most storied estates. The Sunday auction takes place inside the 15th-century Hospices de Beaune, also known as the Hotel-Dieu, with its famous polychrome tiled roof. The festivities close on Monday with La Paulee de Meursault, a communal lunch where guests bring their finest bottles to share.

The Auction

The wines auctioned are produced from vineyards donated to the Hospices over the centuries by Burgundian families. The estate now holds over 60 hectares of prime vineyard land, including parcels in some of Burgundy's most celebrated appellations: Corton, Pommard, Meursault, and Beaune Premier Cru.

Each lot is a single barrel (roughly 228 litres, or about 300 bottles) of the current vintage, sold as futures. Prices at auction are closely watched by the wine trade as a bellwether for the broader Burgundy market. Historically, auction prices have run well above retail for comparable wines, reflecting both the charitable purpose and the prestige of owning Hospices barrels.

All proceeds go to the Hospices de Beaune charitable foundation, which funds healthcare and social services in the region. In recent years, the auction has raised between EUR 10 million and EUR 30 million annually.

Attending the Auction

The auction itself requires advance registration and ticket purchase. General admission tickets (EUR 50-200) provide access to the auction hall and pre-auction tastings of the current vintage from barrel. The Clos de Vougeot dinner and the Paulee de Meursault are separate ticketed events with limited availability — these sell out months in advance.

For those without auction tickets, the town of Beaune comes alive with satellite events: open cellar doors across the Cote de Beaune, wine bars pouring rare Burgundy, street food markets in the Place Carnot, and a festive atmosphere that fills every cafe and restaurant in the old town.

Where to Stay

Beaune is a small town and accommodation fills up rapidly. Book at least three to four months in advance. Hotels in the walled old town command premium rates during the weekend. The villages of Savigny-les-Beaune, Pommard, and Meursault offer quieter (and cheaper) alternatives within a 10-minute drive.

Getting There

Beaune is 45 minutes south of Dijon by car or regional train (TER). From Paris, the TGV to Dijon takes 1 hour 40 minutes, with a connection to Beaune. Lyon is 2 hours south. The closest airports are Dijon-Bourgogne and Lyon-Saint Exupery.

Insider Tips

The pre-auction barrel tastings on Saturday morning are the real draw for serious wine enthusiasts. You taste the actual lots that will be auctioned, alongside the winemaking team from the Hospices. Arrive early — the tasting rooms inside the Hotel-Dieu fill up quickly.

November in Burgundy is cold and often grey. Pack warm layers. The charm of the weekend is partly in the contrast between the grey autumn landscape and the warmth of the cellars and dining halls. Bring comfortable walking shoes — the cobblestones of Beaune are unforgiving after a day of tasting.