Hospices de Beaune 2006: the white wine prices rise

On Sunday the 146th sales of Hospices de Beaune was sold off at spectacular white wine prices whereas the red wine prices stagnated, announced Chrisite’s, in charge of this sales’ organization since last year.

The white wine price rose +63.3% against just +1.1% for the red wines. This price increase is explained by the announced quality of the 2006 white wines. Among the most wanted wines of this year are a Batard-Montrachet, a Clos de la Roche and a Mazis Chambertin. The charity wine, a Beaune Dames Hospitalières, was sold at the record price of 200,000 euro. Altogether the sales earned 5.54 million euro.

Both professionals and lovers wait for this annual event because it states the price fixation of all Burgundy wines of the 2006 vintage.

Facing a decreasing consumption of wine in France, the Burgundy depends more and more on exportation as the competition increases more and more. But the tensions between France and the United States were calmed and the exports continue. Today one out of six bottles leaves to the United States, but the main foreign Burgundy lovers still are the British who, by their taste for the Chablis, represent 1/3 of the exportation volume.

2006, December 20 - © L'Express

Other information :
• Chablis Premier Cru
• Clos De La Roche
• Batard Montrachet
• Burgundy