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The oldest charity wine sale in the world will be held on Sunday November 20 in Beaune, eastern France. The money collected finances the public hospital and retirement homes in Beaune. Buyers from all over the world are expected for this sale organized with Sotheby’s.
The sale of the “Presidents Room” usually terminates the program. Last year, this unique 228-litre barrel was sold for 800,000 euros, so inevitably, the organizers dream of setting a new record. The red wine that makes up this piece is a Corton Grand Cru from three of the most beautiful terroirs of the Hospices de Beaune estate. The money raised from its sale will make it possible in particular to support children with cancer and their families.
The parents’ house
Ludivine Watiez represents the association Princess Margot : « When cancer is announced in a family, it is not only the child who is affected, it is the whole family who lives at the rhythm of this child. We need this help. It will finance the parents’ house called Marg’home. Parents who arrive in Paris are confused. They don’t necessarily find a hotel or don’t have the means to do so. So they sometimes sleep in their car in the parking lot. This parents’ house will be a place of rest, of breathing for them, a place of accompaniment. »
Long term programs
World Vision is the second beneficiary of this special sale. This international organization helps the most vulnerable children through long-term programs. They enable these children to be lifted out of extreme poverty so that they can go to school and live their lives to the full. His latest assignments include Afghanistan, Ukraine and Kenya. Present for ten years in this country, World Vision intervenes region by region to obtain an end to female genital mutilation.
« In 1999, the prevalence rate of these mutilations in the Chepareria region in West Pokot County (western Kenya) was 95%. Today it is less than 10% », explains Camille Romain des Boscs, director of the association. But the work does not stop there. Excisions of girls and child marriage cause school dropouts and illiteracy. We must help these girls, but also their families and their communities. And for that, you need money, a lot of money.
Generous harvest in all respects
Ludivine Griveau, manager of the wine estate, is very proud to present for sale a qualitative and abundant harvest: “ Despite our fear of going organic for 60 hectares in one piece, the conditions helped us to carry out and bring in a harvest in perfect sanitary condition. For this Presidents’ Room, you need the best of the best. We have a certain taste for the accomplished. It will serve two great causes. It resonates and it makes sense. »
The emotions of selling
In total, 802 Burgundian pieces (802 barrels) should arouse covetousness. According to Albéric Bichot, president of Maison Albert Bichot and the first buyer of the auction for more than 20 years, the demand for Burgundy wines is not weakening: “ The worst thing is to make predictions before the sale. Last year, there were indeed very few volumes. This year, as we find production volumes, let’s say, normal high, I have no doubts about the fact that all the pieces will find buyers. »
Is there a risk of seeing bottle prices skyrocket? “ It happened fifteen years ago and even before. But for at least fifteen years, there has been very little correlation between the price indices for the sale of Hospices over a year compared to the prices of a buying campaign. [de vins de Bourgogne en général, NDLR]. The Hospices de Beaune is already nothing but great wines. It is a photo at a given moment plus the irrationality due to the charity aspect. No, it’s really something else », concludes this merchant.
Actor Benoit Magimel and TV host Flavie Flament will have the mission of converting these emotions into cold hard cash.