For a moment, the flame wavered. Will the continuous rains that have fallen on the vines for months dampen the hopes of bottling the first organic vintage of wines from Hospices de Beaune (Côte-d’Or)? And thus put out the fire of a reconversion process towards environmentally friendly grape cultivation, initiated since 2017?
The pressure fell on the strong shoulders of Ludivine Griveau, director of this prestigious Burgundy wine estate. “Before the flower, when we could still save some of the harvest, I went to see the director of the Hospices to ask him whether or not we were continuing with this last step towards the conversion to organic. He said we had to continue.”she says. And she adds: “It is a luxury to be able to grow the crop I believed in, ignoring the probable loss of the harvest. »
The evaporation of the harvest could be estimated when the Sotheby’s company revealed, in its Parisian premises, the number of pieces that will be auctioned on Sunday, November 17 in Beaune. For 164my In this edition of this charity sale, which is also a barometer of the Burgundy wine market closely examined by professionals, 438 pieces and three leaves will go under the hammer of the auctioneer (one piece or a barrel contains 228 liters and one leaf corresponds to half a barrel), to be compared with the 802 pieces presented for auction in 2023. As for the charity coin, known as the “presidents’ coin”, the highlight of the auction, the benefits of which This sale is destined for two charitable associations and will contain Beaune Premier Cru “Les Bressandes”. “The favorite” of the manager, “I spent this year in front of some great wines”according to his words.
Ludivine Griveau, who is proud to have completed the organic certification of the 60-hectare estate, describes the 2024 harvest as“experimental”. Starting in October 2023, rain entered the picture. “At first we said to ourselves: ‘It’s going to stop raining.’ “The weather will get better.” In fact, the rain never stopped.”testify. Enough to slow down work in the vineyards, whether planting or fertilizing the soil.
However, in April, a sunny episode suggests a generous harvest. The decision was even made to remove some shoots so as not to overload the strain. But hope was quickly disappointed by a continuation of the weather soap opera under the sign of the yo-yo. Cold spells followed tropical spells. To the point that the vine, focused on its survival, favored the growth of tendrils to the detriment of the fruits. Without forgetting that environmental humidity and dew favored the development of mildew. This disease caused by a fungus that plagues winegrowers appeared very early, at the end of April. Then he never let up on the pressure and attacked ferociously again in July. Powdery mildew also arrived to spoil the party.
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