Hospices de Nuits

History of Domaine des Hospices de Nuits

The history of Domaine des Hospices de Nuits begins in the 13th century, around 1270, at the close of Saint Louis's reign and the accession of the Duke of Burgundy Robert II. At that time, the hospitalier sisters cared for the sick in medieval hospitals, but these institutions were desperately short of funds. As was common throughout Burgundy, local families gradually donated plots of vines to the Hospices, whose cultivation helped finance medical and social development. The first documented bequest of the estate dates back to 1633, and the first known donation of vines to 1688, when Hugues Perdrizet offered two ouvrées: to this day, a cuvée of the Hospices bears his name in tribute.

For centuries, the estate sold its wines in bottles. After the Second World War, the idea emerged to organise an auction sale, modelled on the famous Hospices de Beaune sale. The first edition was held on 13 March 1961, under the Halles de Nuits-Saint-Georges, and was presented as the "little sister" of the Beaune sale. The auction is now held at the Château du Clos de Vougeot, on the second Sunday of March each year. Since 2016, the estate has been integrated into the Hospices Civils de Beaune. In 2018, a new hospital opened in Nuits-Saint-Georges, funded in large part through the auction proceeds. 

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine des Hospices de Nuits

The vineyard covers approximately 12.4 hectares, spread across the prestigious communes of Nuits-Saint-Georges, Premeaux-Prissey, Vosne-Romanée and Gevrey-Chambertin, in the heart of the Côte de Nuits, the historic core of great red Burgundy. The estate is composed primarily of crus from the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation, covering a large portion of the hillsides and the most prestigious terroirs. It brings together eight village parcels grouped into four cuvées (Les Lavières, Les Saint-Julien, Les Maladières, Les Fleurières), nine distinct premiers crus, including the Hospices monopole Les Didiers, as well as a plot in Gevrey-Chambertin Les Champs-Chenys.

The encépagement is dominated by Pinot Noir, the king grape variety of Burgundy, complemented by a few rows of Chardonnay on the rare premier cru Les Terres Blanches, which produces the estate's only white Nuits-Saint-Georges. Four full-time staff work the estate under the guidance of Jean-Marc Moron, a talented régisseur. Harvesting is entirely manual, at optimal ripeness, with rigorous sorting both in the vineyard and at the winery. Vineyard management is meticulous, following the great Burgundian tradition, with green harvesting to limit yields and concentrate the potential of the bunches. In 2026, the estate takes over the cultivation of three new plots in Nuits-Saint-Georges, an important step in enhancing its viticultural heritage.

Vinifications of Domaine des Hospices de Nuits

In the cellar, the Hospices de Nuits have benefited since 2002 from a modern winery, which has enabled a genuine qualitative step forward. The grapes, after meticulous sorting, are entirely destemmed and then fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Alcoholic fermentations are carried out with indigenous yeasts, at controlled temperatures (sometimes cooled to 14°C at the start of fermentation to preserve the aromas). Automated pump-overs and punch-downs allow for gentle and precise extraction, in full respect of the grape and the terroir.

The wines are then transferred by gravity to the ageing cellar, where they are housed in new French oak barrels (100%), sourced from several cooperages (Damy, Berthomieux, Sirugue), with a "medium-high" toast. Ageing lasts approximately 18 months on fine lees. A unique feature: it falls to the purchasers (négociants or private buyers) to complete the ageing and bottling following the March auction. This stage, entrusted to renowned houses such as Albert Bichot, Maison Champy or Maison Drouhin, contributes to the diversity of expression of the wines. The result is a coherent range with a recognisable signature: aromatic finesse, rounded tannins even in youth, and a perfect balance between power and freshness.

The cuvées of Domaine des Hospices de Nuits

Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Lavières / Les Bas de Combe, Cuvée Guillaume Labye: a village cuvée crafted from plots situated close to Vosne-Romanée. An elegant expression of Nuits-Saint-Georges, with a more airy aromatic signature, marked by red fruits, soft spices and a fine texture.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Saint-Julien / Les Plateaux, Cuvée Claude Poyen: a classic village cuvée, crafted from several plots including Aux Saint-Julien. Ruby colour, nose of cherry, raspberry and spiced notes, fresh and structured palate with the typical texture of village Nuits.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Maladières / Les Brûlées, Cuvée Grangier: a village cuvée crafted from the Les Maladières and Les Brûlées plots. A balanced and silky expression of the appellation, with vibrant fruit and a classic structure.

Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Fleurières / Les Plantes au Baron, Cuvée des Sœurs Hospitalières: a village cuvée paying tribute to the hospitalier sisters who founded the estate, crafted from the Les Fleurières and Les Plantes au Baron plots. Brilliant ruby colour, floral and fruity nose, round and generous palate.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Murgers, Cuvée Guyard de Changey: a Premier Cru from the lieu-dit Les Murgers, on the border of Vosne-Romanée. Deep colour, complex nose of black fruits and spices, broad and structured palate with great ageing potential.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Corvées Pagets, Cuvée Saint-Laurent: a Premier Cru from the southern part of the appellation, vinified in the estate's purest house style. A structured and precise expression, with the powerful character typical of southern Nuits.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Porrets-Saint-Georges, Cuvée Antide Midan: a renowned Premier Cru of the appellation, with a plush and energetic signature. A cuvée that is both charming in youth and capable of beautiful development.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots, Cuvée Mesny de Boisseaux: an exceptional Premier Cru from the lieu-dit Les Boudots, on gravelly limestone soils at the boundary of Vosne-Romanée. Vinified in wooden vats, aged for 18 months in new and used barrels. Deep purple colour, nose of black fruits, flowers and spices, silky and concentrated palate with a long finish.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Didiers, Cuvée Fagon: the estate's emblematic monopole, crafted from the oldest vines (old vines cuvée) of the Premier Cru Les Didiers. Ink-dark colour, complex nose, powerful and deep palate, built for a long ageing potential. The estate's absolute signature.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Didiers, Cuvée Cabet: second cuvée of the Les Didiers monopole, crafted from young vines (approximately 30 years old). A more accessible yet already profound expression, revealing the nobility of the terroir.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Didiers, Cuvée Jacques Duret: a blend of the Fagon and Cabet cuvées, combining the depth of the old vines with the freshness of the young ones. A cuvée of balance, bearing the distinguished signature of the great monopole.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Vignerondes, Cuvée Bernarde Delesclache: a Premier Cru from the lieu-dit Les Vignerondes. Deep colour, expressive nose of red and black fruits, structured and persistent palate with a silky tannic framework.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Saint-Georges, Cuvée des Sires de Vergy / Cuvée Hugues Perdrizet / Cuvée Georges Faiveley: the flagship Premier Cru of the appellation, considered the most prestigious in Nuits-Saint-Georges and a long-standing candidate for Grand Cru classification. Several cuvées are produced according to the plots: Cuvée des Sires de Vergy, Cuvée Hugues Perdrizet (in tribute to the very first donor of 1688) and Cuvée Georges Faiveley. A masterful expression of a Grand Cru in the making.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Rues de Chaux, Cuvée Camille Rodier: a Premier Cru from the lieu-dit Les Rues de Chaux, located in the northern part of the appellation. Ruby colour, fruity and spiced nose, fine and elegant palate.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Terres Blanches, Cuvée Pierre de Pême: a hidden gem of the estate, an exceedingly rare white Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru. Crafted from Chardonnay grown on a few acres of hillside. Pale golden colour, expressive nose of white flowers and fruit, a rounder than mineral palate with a charming signature.

Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Terres Blanches, Cuvée Saint Bernard de Cîteaux: another cuvée from the Premier Cru Les Terres Blanches, in red, offering a complementary expression of this singular climat.

Gevrey-Chambertin Les Champs-Chenys, Cuvée Irène Noblet: the estate's only Gevrey-Chambertin, crafted from a village-level plot located in the neighbouring commune. A well-balanced, elegant cuvée that rounds out the red wine range of the Hospices.

Pièce des Bienfaiteurs (Cuvée de Charité): an unprecedented and exceptional lot introduced in 2022, sold in aid of a different charitable association each year. It is a Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru produced from a blend of the estate's nine premiers crus, making it a truly unique wine, never reproduced from one edition to the next. A mythical and solidarity-driven lot, which has become an eagerly anticipated highlight at each sale.