Hollywood stars, including Eva Longoria and Dominic West, gathered in Beaune, the capital of Burgundy’s wine region, on Sunday for the centuries-old charity wine auction. Despite the high-profile attendance, the event raised considerably less than anticipated, with total proceeds reaching just under 14 million euros ($14.7 million). This figure is a significant drop compared to the previous year’s take and far below the 2022 record of 29 million euros.
Dominic West, known for his portrayal of King Charles III in The Crown, encouraged attendees to bid generously, emphasizing the life-saving impact of their contributions. “Let’s bid high. What you’re buying here represents lives saved,” he urged the crowd. French actor Jean Reno also addressed the bidders, stating, “Help us help others. Thank you very much.”
The highlight of the auction was a barrel of first-growth Beaune wine, equivalent to 288 bottles, which sold for 360,000 euros, with an additional donation of 100,000 euros. The proceeds will benefit Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which is tackling a project to combat dengue fever in Honduras, where cases have surged due to climate change. MSF was represented by West and French actress Zabou Breitman. The Spanish NGO Global Gift Foundation (GGF), supporting vulnerable children, was also a beneficiary, with ambassadors Longoria and Reno lending their support.
Alaor Pereira Lino, a Brazilian buyer, reflected on the significance of the project, saying, “In Brazil, we have a lot of dengue fever (cases), we already know what that means.”
The auction’s overall fundraising was impacted by a reduced number of lots this year, with just 445 items available—one of the smallest collections in the auction’s history, which dates back to 1794. Weather conditions have also affected production, with the Hospices de Beaune vineyard manager Ludivine Griveau noting that the harvest was halved compared to usual years.
The Hospices de Beaune, a group of medical facilities, relies on the funds raised from the auction to maintain and modernize its centers, as these expenses are not covered by the French government. Guillaume Koch, the director of the Hospices, expressed gratitude for the funds raised, saying, “We are happy anyway. The money from the sale is vital.”
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