French stars add flair to Hospices de Beaune

Former French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, actor Gérard Depardieu and football star Guy Roux will bring extra glamour to November’s annual Hospices de Beaune auction.

Former first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy

The trio will help to encourage bidding as money raised from the sale of a 350-litre barrel of Corton Grand Cru Cuvée Charlotte Dumay, known as the President’s Lot, will be donated to two charities supported by the stars: the Fondation Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and the Fondation Idéé (Institut des Epilepsies de l’Enfant et l’Adolescent).

The Fondation Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, which is supported by Dépardieu, was created in 2009 to fund arts and education for disadvantaged children. The Lyon-based Fondation Idéé (Institut des Epilepsies de l’Enfant et l’Adolescent) works with young people suffering from epilepsy and is backed by Roux, who also owns vineyards in Savigny-Les-Beaune.

In total 512 lots will go under the hammer on 18 November at this 152^nd running of the event, which sees Christies auction wines made from around 61 hectares of mainly premier and grand cru vineyards donated to the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune.

The funds raised by the international crowd expected to attend this culmination of a three-day event are used to support l’Hôpital de Beaune, its affiliated retirement homes and the museum.

Although 2012 yielded harvest volumes well below average, this year’s auction will feature a high profile new addition, the Echezeaux Grand Cru, Cuvée Jean-Luc Bissey, following the recent donation of this parcel of land.

Last year’s event saw Marks & Spencer buy eight barrels, due for release in 2013, which will make it the first major UK retailer to offer its customers wine bought via the Hospices de Beaune auction.