Aficionados snap up vintage Hospices de Beaune wines at annual charity auction Americans, Brazilians and wine aficionados from around the world including former NBA star and sales sponsor Tony Parker help take sales in the 159th Hospices de Beaune charity wine auction to 12.3m euros, short of the record tally of 14m in 2018. Auction house Christie's ran the event to sell off a number of Grand Crus and Premier Crus to the highest bidders, with one buyer, Brazilian wine importer Alaor Pereira Lino, paying 260,000 euros for the 'charity piece' which is also known as the "pièce des présidents". The profits from the auction are used for heritage conservation and hospitals. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES