Alain Suguenot, Jean Reno, Eva Longoria, Zabou Breitman, Dominic West and Aurélie Vandevoorde at the Hospices de Beaune 2024 auction.
While a far cry from the record set in 2022 of €29,788,500, the average price per barrel sold – €31,540 – represented a small increase from last year’s average, at €30,839 per barrel, even if bids were lower per barrel than the record 2022 sale, when the average price per barrel sold for €35,974.
That less money was raised compared to last year to upkeep the Hospices Civils de Beaune’s hospitals ‘can be fully explained’ by far fewer barrels on offer this year, said Willem Schiks, export manager for Maison François Martenot, a prominent auction buyer.
‘A very good result’ despite lower yields
Although not the lowest number of barrels to go under the hammer – that record was set in 2021, with 356 barrels and five half barrels – the 438 barrels and three half barrels this year amounted to under 60% of the 753 barrels sold in 2023, reflecting the lower yields of the 2024 vintage compared to last year’s generous harvest.
‘A very good result,’ said Nick Pegna, global head of wines & spirits for Sotheby’s, who also stressed ‘mixed wider market conditions’ as a factor.
Célian Ravel d’Estienne, head of wine auction sales, Sotheby’s France, said: ‘Speaking on behalf of myself and our global wine team, we feel very passionate about working with the Hospices and championing both the cause and their wines. This year, we were
