Since 1443, the Hospices de Beaune, or Hôtel-Dieu, have remained the living symbol of the Burgundian soul: a work born of generosity and of the land. Founded by Nicolas Rolin and his wife Guigone de Salins to shelter the poorest during the Hundred Years War, the Hôtel-Dieu combines a charitable mission with a flamboyant architectural legacy, crowned by its famous polychrome roofs.
Generous gifts of vines soon turned the hospital into a wine estate: as early as 1457, Jean Guillotte le Verrier became the first donor of vineyards, creating the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune.
Now a listed historic monument and a museum, the building welcomes thousands of visitors each year to admire the Grande Salle, its Flemish art and the Last Judgement polyptych, the emblematic work of Rogier van der Weyden.
The estate, some 60 hectares, produces cuvées from plots often handed down as family bequests from one generation to the next. It has been certified organic since 2024, despite a difficult 2024 vintage marked by persistent rain, frost and mildew, which ended in a smaller harvest but one judged good by estate manager Ludivine Griveau.
Every third Sunday in November, the Hospices wine auction remains a worldwide event. In 2023, 438 lots were offered, including the celebrated pièce des présidents, and the proceeds help fund the local public hospital and its care homes.
