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On French National Heritage Day, €800,000 Raised for the Abbey of Cîteaux

25/09/2026

“Clos de Vougeot pour l’abbaye de Cîteaux”, Part II: Record Proceeds Raised Through the Extraordinary Support of Winegrowers, Collectors and Wine Lovers.

Organised by the Château du Clos de Vougeot and the Fondation du Patrimoine, in partnership with Christie’s, and in support of the restoration of the Définitoire of the Abbey of Cîteaux, Direct from Bourgogne’s Greatest Domaines pour l’Abbaye de Cîteaux | Acte II fundraising initiative concluded successfully on Saturday, 19 September. With a total of nearly €800,000 to be allocated to the restoration of this jewel of Bourgogne’s heritage, Vougeot for Cîteaux, Part II surpassed the results of the previous edition, which raised €650,000 in 2022. The restoration of the Définitoire will therefore benefit fully from the success of the 2026 edition, which comprised a charity dinner, auction and other initiatives held at the Château du Clos de Vougeot on 19 September, alongside an online auction organised by Christie’s, official partner of the initiative, from 4 to 19 September.

The success of the project was made possible by an extraordinary collective mobilisation, led first and foremost by Bourgogne’s winegrowers. From Maranges to Gevrey-Chamber tin, the full spectrum of Bourgogne’s UNESCO-listed Climats joined together in tribute to the Abbey of Cîteaux, generously dona ting an exceptional selection of bottles. Grand Crus, Premier Crus and Village appellations, often offered in large formats or vertical collections and paired with unique experiences, attracted nearly 300 collectors and enthusiasts from 33 countries.

Another highlight of the evening was the live charity auction conducted by Adrien Meyer, Christie’s Global Head of Private Sales and Co-Chairman of the Impressionist and Modern Art Department, who travelled especially from New York for the occasion. An additional 10 bottles were auctioned in support of the restoration of the Définitoire of the Abbey of Cîteaux, including a magnum de La Tâche Grand Cru 2015 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Together with the wider wine community, Chris tie’s, the auction house partnering with the initiative, is delighted to support this tribute to an abbey that stands at the very origin of one of the world’s most prestigious wine-growing regions.

The Online Auction:
Running from 4 to 19 September, the online auction organised by Christie’s featured 153 lots spanning 61 appellations from Bourgogne’s Climats, including 24 Grand Crus, 19 Premier Crus, and 17 Village appellations. Over the course of two weeks, the sale attracted nearly 300 participants from around the world, bringing together collectors and wine enthusiasts of all generations.
Offered directly by the producers, every lot found a buyer, with 99% exceeding their high estimate.
Rare vintages, exceptional formats, and unique experiences combining wines with private tastings, visits, and exclusive stays at Bourgogne estates proved particularly appealing to collectors and enthusiasts alike. Highlights of the sale included:

• Lot 22: From the exceptionally sought after Domaine Bernard-Bonin, this rare magnum of Meursault La Rencontre is made up of grapes from two terroirs with old 75 year plus vines. Estimated at €450-600, the lot achieved €4 375.
• Lot 29: A magnificent jeroboam from the Vignoble des Caboes, Chevalier-Montrachet 2023 Côte de Beaune, Grand Cru, sold for €6,875, including a private tasting at the Caboe du Chevalier-Montrachet for six people, against an estimate of €1,300 to €1,700.
• Lot 75: A vertical of three magnums of Côte de Nuits, Grand Cru from the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune, Mazis-Chambertin, Cuvée Madeleine Collignon from 2014, 2015 and 2016. To secure it, the generous buyer – who will be invited on a tour of the estate – paid €17,500, more than ten times the high estimate.
• Lot 90: Among the most spectacular surprises of the sale was a 2022 Côte de Beaune, Premier Cru Benjamin Leroux, Meursault La Pièce Sous le Bois, which sold for €4,375 against an estimate of €190 to €240.
• Lot 91: and also this magnum from Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair, a 2015 Vosne-Romanée Les Pe tits Monts, which soared to €5,250 against an estimate of €600 to €800.
• Lot 145: a vertical of three magnums from Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, Montrachet, from the 2020, 2022 and 2023 vintages, more than tripled its estimate, fetching €47,500.
• Lot 150: numerous bidders for this exceptional jeroboam from Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier de Musigny (2005 Côte de Nuits, Grand Cru). The winner of this fiercely contested auction finally secured it for €43,750, against a pre-sale estimate of €11,000 to €16,000.

The Charity Dinner and Live Auction:
Around 320 guests gathered on 19 September for the charity dinner held in the historic Cistercian Cellar of the Château du Clos de Vougeot, home of the UNESCO-listed Climats of Bourgogne Vineyard. Held under the patronage of Dom Pierre- André Burton, Abbot of Cîteaux, and co-chaired by Aubert de Villaine, Honorary President of the Climats of Bourgogne Vineyard, and Guillaume Poitrinal, President of the Fondation du patrimoine, the evening brought together numerous distinguished guests, reflecting the successful mobilisation of members of the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin and international wine enthusiasts.
As the Château du Clos de Vougeot prepares to host the next edi tion of the World Championship of Oeufs en Meurette this October, the menu created by Executive Chef Alexandra Bouvret appropriately paid tribute to this iconic Burgundian speciality.

“The success of this initiative is a remarkable testament to the generosity of Bourgogne’s winegrowers, who have rallied in extraordinary fashion behind a site that, in itself, symbolises the role and significance of wine within the shared heritage of humanity. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to them, as well as to the many enthusiasts who acquired the wines offered and to everyone who contributed to the success of this event. Surpassing the results of the previous edition in support of the Abbey is both a great source of satisfaction.”
Jean-François Curie, Grand Maître des Chevaliers du Tastevin

“By bringing together Bourgogne’s winegrowers in the pursuit of preserving and passing on an exceptional heritage, the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin fully reaffirms its mission: to promote Bourgogne’s culture, gastronomy and great wines. A true symbol of this living heritage, the Château du Clos de Vougeot is naturally the ideal setting for an event that is perfectly in keeping with the values of sharing, excellence and passing on tradition upheld by the Confrérie.”
Arnaud Orsel, Intendant Général de la Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin

“What took place at the Château du Clos de Vougeot on 19 September 2026 was remarkable: thanks to the generosity of winegrowers and connoisseurs of fine wines, and to the expertise of Christie’s, nearly 800,000 euros were raised for the restoration of the Définitoire at Cîteaux Abbey. Beyond the success of this auction, this is a wonderful gesture of passing on our heritage. Those who today keep Bourgogne’s great terroirs alive have come together to preserve a heritage that is part of our collective history and to pass it on to future generations. I would like to express our deepest gratitude to them.”
Guillaume Poitrinal, Président de la Fondation du patrimoine

“We are delighted with these results, which will directly contribute to the preservation of the remarkable heritage represented by the Abbey of Cîteaux. We are also proud of the commitment shown by ChrisBe’s teams and of their collaboration with the Fondation du Patrimoine and the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin in making this initiative such a success.”
Philippe Lemoine, Managing Director, Christie’s France, and Adam Bilbey, Global Head of Wine & Spirits, Christie’s 

Domaine Bernard-Bonin, Meursault La Rencontre 2022 | Côte de Beaune | Estimate €450-600
Price realised: €4,375€

Vignoble des Cabottes, Chevalier- Montrachet 2023 | 1 Jeroboam (300cl) and 1 expérience | Estimate €1300-1700
Price realised: €6,875

Domaine des Hospices de Beaune, Mazis-Chambertin, Cuvée Madeleine Collignon 2014 - 2016 | 3 Magnums (150cl) and 1 expérience | Estimate €1200-1600
Price realised: €17,500

Benjamin Leroux, Meursault La Pièce Sous le Bois 2022 | 1 Jeroboam (300cl) and 1 expérience | Estimate €190-240
Price realised: €4,375 €

Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair, Vosne-Romanée Les PeLts Monts 2015 | 1 Magnum (150cl) per lot | Estimate €600-800
Price realised: €5,250

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, Montrachet 'Vertical' | 2020 - 2023 | 3 Magnums (150cl) per lot | Estimate €12,000-15,000
Price realised: €47,500

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 'Vertical' | 2014 - 2016 | 3 Magnums (150cl) per lot | Estimate €20,000-26,000
Price realised: €62,500

Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier, Musigny 2005 | 1 Jeroboam (300cl) per lot | Estimate €11,000-16,000
Price realised: €43,750

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Sale Information:

Date: Saturday, 19 september 2026
Venue: Château du Clos de Vougeot
Organisers: Château du Clos de Vougeot & Fondation du patrimoine

Press Contacts

Château du Clos de Vougeot: Alicia Prenot alicia.prenot ticlosdevougeot.info Tel. : 03 80 61 07 12
Fondation du Patrimoine: Justine Belfix justine.belfix@fondation-patrimoine.org Tel : 03 80 43 97 19
Christie’s: Lydia Poitevin PressFrance@christies.com