PARIS.- On 19 September, an exceptional selection of bottles will be offered to wine enthusiasts and philanthropists from around the world through an online auction and a charity dinner held at the Château du Clos de Vougeot. Bringing together outstanding vintages from more than 120 of the most sought‑after estates and houses of the Côte‑d'Or, all mobilised for the occasion, magnums, jeroboams, methuselahs, salmanazars (9 litres), and cases featuring verticals (several vintages of a single cru), will go under the hammer at Christie's during an online sale running from 4 to 19 September, culminating in the charity dinner. Proceeds from the sale, organised under the auspices of the Fondation du patrimoine in association with the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, will be dedicated to the restoration of the Définitoire of the Abbey of Cîteaux, a 17th century Cistercian jewel estimated at €15 million, with reopening to the public planned for 2030. The sale, Les plus grands Domaines de Bourgogne en soutien de l'Abbaye de Cîteaux /Acte II , follows the success of the first edition held in 2022 by the Château du Clos de Vougeot and the Fondation du patrimoine, which raised nearly €650,000 for this cause. By bringing together Bourgogne's winemakers, as well as collectors, enthusiasts and patrons from around the world, the Château du Clos de Vougeot, the Fondation du patrimoine and Christie's aim to give decisive momentum to this cultural and heritage project, with the ambition of surpassing the result achieved during the first edition of the sale.
The Sale and the Charity Diner
Building on the momentum of the previous edition and this collective mobilisation, the Château du Clos de Vougeot and the Fondation du Patrimoine have chosen to continue this initiative by organising a sale of exceptional wines and a major charity dinner, reflecting their shared commitment to preserving the treasures that define Bourgogne's viticultural and cultural identity. “With this Act II, the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin reaffirms, more than ever, its role as a key contributor to the preservation of Bourgogne's culture and heritage. By bringing together the Côte-d'Or's winemakers around a cause of profound meaning, it creates a living link between heritage, transmission, and solidarity. The Château du Clos de Vougeot naturally stands as the setting for this charity dinner, offering the monks of Cîteaux a symbolic return to this great Climat that they shaped more than nine centuries ago and for which today's winemakers are both custodians and stewards.” Arnaud Orsel, General Steward of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin and Secretary of the Clos de Vougeot appellation syndicate
The online auction, running from 4 to 19 September 2026, will bring together some of Bourgogne's most renowned names through an exceptional selection of rare wines and prestigious formats: Montrachet, Corton‑Charlemagne, La Tâche, Musigny, Grands Échezeaux, Richebourg, Chambertin, Clos de Vougeot, and Mazis‑Chambertin, offered in bottles, magnums, or exceptional formats such as jeroboams, methuselahs, salmanazars, and cases featuring verticals. This outstanding catalogue has been made possible by the generosity of winemakers from more than 120 of the most sought‑after estates and houses in the Côte‑d'Or. Beyond the wines themselves, several lots will be enhanced by exclusive experiences at the heart of the estates, including private visits, guided tastings of great vintages, meetings with the owners, and gourmet dinners paired with exceptional wines. The sale will set the rhythm for a charity dinner held in the Cistercian cellar of the Château du Clos de Vougeot. This event will bring together patrons, distinguished guests, and enthusiasts around a high‑level gastronomic experience. In this historic setting, heritage, wine, and gastronomy come together to create a truly unique evening, defined by a spirit of sharing and generosity.
Selected highlights:
• Domaine Pierre-Yves COLIN-MOREY, a vertical of Montrachet in magnum from the 2020, 2022 and 2023 vintages
• Domaine Jean-Claude RAMONET, a vertical of Montrachet from the 2018, 2019 and 2020 vintages
• Hospices de Beaune, a vertical of Mazis‑Chambertin in magnum from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintages
• Maison Albert BICHOT, a Salmanazar (9 litres) of Clos de Vougeot 2006
• Domaine de la Romanée‑Conti, a vertical of La Tâche in magnum from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintages
• Domaine Jean Grivot, a vertical of Richebourg in magnum from the 2011, 2014 and 2017 vintages, together with a tasting at the estate for six guests
• Domaine ARNOUX-LACHAUX, a vertical of Vosne‑Romanée 1er Cru Les Grands Suchots spanning from 2012 to 2017
• Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, magnums of Musigny Blanc and Rouge 2023, together with a tasting at the estate
• Domaine Jacques‑Frédéric MUGNIER, a jeroboam of Musigny 2005
• Domaine du Clos de Tart, a vertical of Clos de Tart from 2018 to 2023, together with a tasting at the estate
• Maison Édouard Delaunay, six magnums of Grands Crus from the 2018 and 2020 vintages, together with a dinner for four featuring a tasting of vintages from the 1950s
“In France as around the world, Christie's experience in major charity auctions is unmatched. It is an honour to have been chosen as a partner for an initiative of such profound cultural and historical significance. We are particularly pleased to support this cause by mobilising the full expertise and passion of our wine specialists, together with our unrivalled network of international buyers, in service of a project rooted in a long and distinguished history.” Philippe Lemoine, Managing Director of Christie's France, and Adam Bilbey, Head of Wine & Spirits, Christie's.
The Abbey of Cîteaux: Cradle of the Cistercian Order
The abbey of Cîteaux, the cradle of the Cistercian Order, was founded in 1098. Emptied of its monks during the French Revolution, it was revived in 1898 thanks to a community of Cistercian monks, known as Trappists. Heir to this long history and exceptional architectural heritage, the present-day community decided in 2018 to restore one of Cîteaux's emblematic buildings, the Définitoire, with the support of the Mission Patrimoine.
“Since 2018, the Mission Patrimoine led by Stéphane Bern and the Fondation du patrimoine have been mobilised to save the Définitoire at Cîteaux, then under serious threat. This financial support enabled the launch of the studies required to restore this emblematic building of Cistercian heritage. This intervention proved decisive in ensuring its preservation and preparing its revival,” Jean-Christophe Bonnard, Regional Delegate of the Fondation du patrimoine for Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
“Who could ignore how profoundly the establishment of monasteries following the Benedictine tradition, and particularly the Cistercian order, has contributed to shaping our rural terroirs? The connection between the Abbey of Cîteaux and the Clos de Vougeot is undoubtedly one of its most perfect expressions. More than ever, this is evidenced today by the mobilisation of the Climats of Bourgogne in support of the Cîteaux community in its project to restore the Définitoire.” Dom Pierre‑André Burton, Abbot of the Abbey of Cîteaux.
The Définitoire : a building like no other in the world
Listed as a Historic Monument, the Définitoire symbolises the highly innovative and democratic organisation envisioned by the founding abbots. It brings together in a single place the extraordinary influence of the Cistercian Order: the spiritual influence of an order that spread across medieval Europe, the intellectual influence of a system of governance that can be seen as a true precursor to a European parliamentary structure, and its temporal influence. The monks of Cîteaux developed and refined in Bourgogne a form of viticulture without equal, giving rise to the Climats of Bourgogne, which have since become a model for terroir‑driven viticulture worldwide. The Climats of Bourgogne have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2015.
