The Domaine des Hospices de Beaune
The oldest and most famous of Bourgogne’s Domaine and charity wine auction…
The Hospices de Beaune were founded by Nicolas Rolin (Chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy Philippe Le Bon) and his wife Guigone de Salin at the end of the Hundred Years War and more specifically in 1443, “I, Nicolas Rolin… from now on and forever, found and irrevocably endow, in the town of Beaune, a Hospital for sick and poor people, with a chapel… “(Nicolas Rolin foundation charter of Hôtel-Dieu)
The desire clearly was to create a hospital for care of the poor, the elderly, orphans and the sick at the time. It opened for the first mass in 1452 as the Hotel-Dieu.
In 1457 acquired the first vineyard donation; the only real wealth of the time, for the Hospices de Beaune. Guillemette Leverrier donated to the Hospices few parcels of vines of « Beaune, lieu dit Beaumont-le-Franc ». Two years later Jean Plampays and his wife also donated a parcel of vineyard in Beaune.This launch opened the doors for many other gifts that followed.
Regarding the sale of wine and its derivatives it has not always been done through the auction system. Since they had not been regulated until 1859 sales could take place amicably until the French Revolution and then by submission.
In 1859 auction has definitely established itself as procedure for the sale of wine at the Hospices de Beaune. In 1924 the date was set at every third Sunday of November. In 2005 wishing to ensure a perfect organization and unwilling to trust the organization to industry experts the Hospices de Beaune turned to to the famous auction house Christie’s (the first auction house in the world) for the organization of the 145th edition and for the following auctions.
Focus on Ludivine Griveau, manager of the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune: Why did you choose to make wine, become an Engineer and oenologist ?
“I think it was the work of the vines that chose me. There was actually nothing that predestined me to do this. I did scientific studies, my family is not from the wine sector and has no particular connection with wine except the passion for the very good gastronomic and good wines. I have been with this for a long time but not in the technical part, nor in production. I came to the trades of the vine and the wine in the course of my studies and experiences. It is a product of circumstance, as I do not think much happens at random, I am obliged to admit that my path of study was there. After a scientific baccalauréat I studied agro-food and then agronomy, followed by studies of sensory evaluations and oenology to finish my first work in a vineyard. In the end the passion came to me little by little …”
Why did you choose to make wine in Burgundy and not in another region?
“Because I am Burgundian even if I like and also drink wines from everywhere. I am not at all locked up in a wine style, in a region but working with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is what I know how to do and what I like to do. I grew up here, with these two varieties, the wines of Burgundy are my roots. ”
If you had to summarize your passion for wine in 3 or 4 words what would you say?
“I would say: pleasure, sharing and rigor. One must be hyper rigorous because as in all areas to make beautiful things, beautiful wines it is mandatory to be very rigorous. And then to finish I would say that wine is the product of a lot of work in the vineyard! ”
What is the signature of your wines? What makes it possible to recognize your wines, your touch in blind tasting ?
” It is really a difficult question, but what is good is that, in the end, it forces reflection. It is mainly the consumers, the connoisseurs who should answer this question rather than me because it is mainly unconscious. What I hope to express in the wines I work with is passion. I think I make wines that have spirit and especially, because it is paramount for me, respectful of their terroirs.
It is rather paradoxical finally with the title of the question because that is precisely why we do not have wines with its own signature since it is the terroir that takes over. In the end the signature could not be mine to have but the wines are marked by their terroirs.
After all, I’m aware of it, but from there to decipher it, to say what characterizes it or to put words on it is more complicated for me. It may be better to ask those who taste them. ”
If tomorrow you had the opportunity to have a vineyard and produce your own wine which region would you choose? Would you like to make your own wine?
“Yes of course I would! If it is in France I would say that it is incontestably in Burgundy. If it is in another country it would be in Italy since my paternal roots are Italian and it pushes me a little. I am Burgundian enough to love all the coasts but I still have a small penchant for the Côte de Beaune. It is there that I cut my teeth, that I started, that I learned so I have a certain attachment for the Côte of Beaune. ”
Do you have an anecdote to us ?
“Yes, indeed, I would even have two, one on the Hospices de Beaune and one on my career.
The first morning I took office Mr. Antoine Jacquet greeted me saying, reminding me: First of all, never forget that you work for a hospital!
The second is broader, more general and concerns my career. The day after I finished my studies and my different courses I really thought, here I want to make wine. I want to be at the production, feet in the vines and not in the marketing, at the administration. All this thanks to a vigneron of Pommard to whom I would like to pay tribute, Mr Virely. ”
Do you have plans for the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune ?
“Yes plenty of projects! Without order of importance, without hierarchization I would say to continue to work hard in the vineyard, to continue to carry out a policy of specific vintages really determined, adapted to each soil by taking the time to think and do things to the best. This is a beautiful project! But it is vast because the removing and replanting campaigns have to be carried out with a certain reflection. It is not only a matter of pulling out vines, but also of replanting. And then there are economic considerations to take into account too …
I also really wanted to work with my team on the spray quality. I hope they will hear me too because they have the free choice to equip themselves as they wish. However, I hope that they are aware that the investments made by (and for) them later will require the acquisition of more advanced and efficient equipment (straddles, tractors …). ”
Thanks to Ludivine Griveau for her warm welcome.
Choukroun Chicheportiche Jonathan
Domaine des Hospices de Beaune
Rue de l’Hôtel Dieu
21200 Beaune
03 80 24 45 00
