Hospices de Beaune is the most prestigious charity wine auction a wine collector and merchant can participate in. On whether the premium paid is worthwhile, beyond the label.
Like any Burgundy bottle, a barrel of Hospices de Beaune is bought for the name on the label just as much as for what's inside it.
"Asian wine collectors purchase Hospices de Beaune wines primarily for their elite Burgundy pedigree, rarity, and status," says Douglas Soh, Managing Director of Aether Wines & Spirits , the Singapore importer whose participation at the auction predates the company itself, going back to 2014. The heritage and charity narrative matters too, Douglas adds, but it sits alongside the pedigree and status, not above it.
Unlike just any Burgundy bottle, a buyer can customise their…