![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1" height="1666px" width="2500px"></svg>)
T his November, beneath the vaulted rafters of Beaune’s ancient market hall, the 165th Hospices de Beaune wine auction will unfold as it always has — with ceremony, with celebration, and with that peculiar blend of solemnity and sparkle that only Burgundy can conjure. Yet this year, amid the parade of illustrious vintages, one gesture will rise above the rest: Domaine Faiveley, stalwart of the Côte d’Or, is donating a parcel of Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru to the Hospices — a first in the institution’s storied history.
Announced on the occasion of the domaine’s bicentenary, this is not merely a gift of land but of legacy. It is an echo from another time, when vineyard deeds were sealed with wax and conscience, and generosity coursed through the region like the fog over its limestone slopes.
The plot is small — just over four ouvrées (0.17 hectares) — yet its symbolism looms large.
With it, the Hospices will craft three additional barrels of wine each year, to be auctioned for the benefit of the hospital. Though modest in volume, the new cuvée represents an extraordinary contribution, enhancing the auction’s prestige, expanding its fundraising potential, and underscoring the enduring link between Burgundy’s heritage and its future.
Founded in 1443, the Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune, known today as the Hospices Civils de Beaune, was originally conceived as a charitable hospital to serve the sick and destitute following the devastation of the Hundred Years’ War. From its earliest days, it was sustained by land and vineyard donations from the region’s nobility and bourgeoisie, whose philanthropy became woven into the cultural fabric of Burgundy.
In 1859, the Hospices began offering wines from its estate for public sale. That inaugural auction laid the groundwork for what would become the world’s oldest charity wine auction, held each year on the third Sunday of November. Today, the Hospices’ estate spans more than 60 hectares — over 85% of it classified Premier Cru or Grand Cru — with the annual auction serving as a vital fundraiser to support hospital modernization, medical innovation, and elder care.
The 2025 edition promises to be especially meaningful. Alongside the usual lineup of prestigious cuvées, buyers will find a new addition: Clos de Vougeot – Cuvée François Faiveley, a tribute to the estate’s founder and a testament to the shared values of tradition, excellence, and community.
Clos de Vougeot is not merely a vineyard — it is an emblem of Burgundian identity. First enclosed by Cistercian monks in the 14th century, the Clos has long stood as a physical and symbolic heart of the Côte de Nuits. Today, its 50 hectares are subdivided among more than 80 owners, each crafting wines that reflect the Clos’ varied soils and microclimates.
That makes this particular donation especially rare. The parcel in question, planted in 1974 and located in the lower section of the Clos, spans just over four ouvrées (approximately 0.17 hectares). It was acquired in 1911 by François Faiveley (1859–1918), a pivotal figure in the estate’s history, and will henceforth bear his name in the auction catalog.
“We have always been committed to promoting Burgundy through our wines, just as the Hospices does through the auction held each year,” explains siblings Erwan and Eve, the seventh generation of Faiveleys.
The decision was made quietly, nearly five years ago. But the timing of the announcement, paired with the debut of the cuvée in the 2025 auction, was chosen with intent. “By making this donation, we aim to forge a lasting partnership with this magnificent institution,” adds the Faiveleys, “and mark our 200th anniversary with a forward-looking act.”
For Ludivine Griveau, régisseur and winemaker of the Hospices de Beaune estate since 2015, the moment the donation was confirmed was both humbling and exhilarating.
“My first reaction,” she recalls, “was simply to feel captivated by the generosity. I was honored. It’s not every day that someone gifts you a Grand Cru vineyard.”
Clos de Vougeot now becomes the fourth Grand Cru from the Côte de Nuits in the Hospices portfolio. The parcel, she notes, is situated in the lower section of the Clos, where the clay-rich soils lend themselves to structure and power. “It’s about 40 to 45 years old — middle-aged for Burgundy — and with this terroir, I expect a concentrated wine.”
The excitement is tempered by a healthy respect for the vineyard’s stature. “Of course, there’s pressure. This is Clos de Vougeot. It must be excellent. Fortunately, we’re not starting from zero — I’ve already spoken with Jérôme Flous, the winemaker at Faiveley, says Griveau. “He’s offered to share his insights. We’ll also taste several vintages together to calibrate our approach.”
The 2025 vintage, she adds, is looking promising. “Much better conditions than last year. The crop is healthy, the grapes are small and intense — ideal for a Grand Cru expression.”
But for Griveau, the wine is only part of the story.
“This donation is filled with emotion. What’s especially moving is that the Faiveley family, the donors themselves, will be in the auction room. They will see the wine offered, they may even bid!” She explains that there’s something profound in that moment of continuity — to give, and then to see the community embrace what you’ve given.
“The wine industry has been supporting the Hospices for a long time, and that support continues today,” says Guillaume Koch, Director of the Hospices Civils de Beaune. “There’s a deep connection to the hospital institution itself, but also, I think, to the Hôtel-Dieu in particular—supporting a monument of such historical and cultural importance.”
For him the generosity of donors like the Faiveley family is more than heartening. It's essential.
“Our core mission,” he explains, “is to deliver high-quality, local healthcare to the people of southern Côte-d’Or. That means maintaining emergency services, pediatrics, maternity care, oncology, surgery, and more. But like many hospitals in France, we face significant financial challenges.”
The auction proceeds are, according to him, a lifeline.
“Without the financial support that comes from our exceptional heritage, particularly from the proceeds of the wine auctions, the hospital would struggle greatly to make the necessary investments that are essential for its continued operation.”
Koch sees in this donation not just a practical benefit but a renewal of spirit. “It’s a powerful gesture of trust from Domaine Faiveley. It shows that they value—not only the institution—but also the wines we produce,” he explains. “They have confidence in the quality of the wine that will come from this parcel. So, beyond continuing a long-standing tradition, this gift reflects renewed trust in our mission and in our ability to carry it forward.”
The symbolic resonance of Clos de Vougeot adds another layer. “We’ve always had a close relationship with the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin,” Koch notes. “So this gift strengthens a historical bond and brings new prestige to the estate.”
While wine lovers around the world may be familiar with the Hospices auction and the beauty of the Hôtel-Dieu’s polychrome roof, Koch notes that few fully grasp the unique nature of the institution.
Hospices is a working hospital — with vineyards. It’s not a museum or a brand, but a living, breathing healthcare provider.
“From the outside, it can be difficult to grasp: a hospital that still owns and directly manages vineyards, with hospital staff working those vines, and wines that are then sold—not only to collectors, but still largely to professional wine merchants, explains Koch. “It often surprises people—it really captures their attention.”
In an age when philanthropy often takes corporate forms, the Faiveley donation harks back to a more personal model of giving — one rooted in place, tradition, and quiet conviction.
“I actually called the Faiveley family not just to thank them,” says Ludivine Griveau, “but to share how deeply this moved me. It gives me hope for the world — that people are still capable of this kind of generosity.”
As the 165th Hospices de Beaune Auction approaches, among the treasures to be offered under the soaring timbers of Beaune’s medieval market hall, three humble barrels bear a weight far greater than their volume. Clos de Vougeot – Cuvée François Faiveley is no ordinary wine; it is a testament not only to viticultural excellence but to the enduring bond between Burgundy’s vineyards and its values — tradition, generosity, and an unwavering belief in community.
“This wine will be small in quantity,” says Ludivine Griveau, her voice tinged with reverence, “but large in meaning. I believe something special will happen at this auction — a kind of emotion that reminds us why we do this work.”
And so the story of a single act becomes part of something grander: not merely a gift of land, nor even a gesture of legacy, but a continuation of spirit. In a region where time is measured in vintages and generosity is rooted in limestone and clay, this wine becomes a vessel — carrying the past forward, one drop at a time, into a future made brighter by care and conviction.
