A brief history of Hospices De Beaune indicates that it was founded by the Chancellor to the Duke of Burgundy and his wife in 1443 and was dedicated to the care of the poor. At this time the town of Beaune was suffering from the effects of both The Hundred Years War and the Black Death but the charitable works of Nicolas Rollin and his wife Guigone de Salins were just the beginning and the story quickly includes wine.

In 1457 in the same spirit of charitable giving the Hospices de Beaune received a gift of a plot of vines. Over five centuries this charitable tradition has continued and today the Hospices de Beaune are in possession of 60 acres of some of the finest plots of Burgundian vines. The majority of these vineyards are planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, varieties that many growers in England and Wales know well.

To highlight how this charitable tradition has continued through the ages vineyards in Corton Charlemagne were donated by a descendent of Guigone de Salins in 1745 and in 2017 Bernard Clerc former winemaker at Puligny-Montrachet also donated vines from the Appellation to the Hospices de Beaune. These wine growing areas are instantly recognisable and known worldwide for the excellence and longevity of their wines. Walking through the historic streets of Beaune excellent wines with some truly stratospheric prices are everywhere and it is striking that in a modern world that values profit and fame, here wine is also linked to that which it can give back to the community around it. 

Every November the most famous wine auction in the world takes place in Beaune and the funds raised are still used to further the original purpose of the Hospices de Beaune. The website for the 164th Sale stated: “The benefits generated have recently participated in the purchase of a latest-generation scanner and the equipment of the new cardiovascular rehabilitation service opened in January 2021.”

It is said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and at the Hospices de Beaune not only are the buildings beautiful to behold, they also hold another kind of beauty, one that has for over 500 years been dedicated to helping those in need. That wine and vineyards have played such a significant part in this history is a lesson to us all.

In England and Wales there are several examples of wine being part of charitable efforts within communities. Forty Hall, Warden Abbey and the Fifth Trust, to name a few, all provide good examples of connections between community, charity and Wine. As viticulture in England and Wales continues on its path it is encouraging to see that these charitable enterprises have become part of the journey. There are also many vineyards who are working hard to benefit their local communities thinking of new ways to give back to the areas in which they are situated. This is part of the full concept of being truly sustainable (and has been true for over 500 years in the town of Beaune) and hopefully will stand English and Welsh wine on a good footing for the long term future.

For more like this, sign up for the FREE Vineyard newsletter here and receive all the latest viticulture news, reviews and insight