Burgundy: Hospices de Beaune wine maker Roland Masse to retire

2014 will be the 15th and final vintage for Roland Masse at the Hospices de Beaune wine estate. Manager of the famous estate since 2000, he is due to retire at the end of this year, according to Burgundy’s daily newspaper, Bien Public. The paper also states that his successor will take over in 2015. Grape harvesting at the 60-hectare property started on September 10 with AC Pouilly Fuissé, before moving on to parcels in the Côtes de Beaune and Côtes de Nuits. The entire production – which this year was affected by hailstorms – is auctioned off every year in aid of the Hospices de Beaune hospital and various charities. The 2013 auction raised 5.9 million euros from the sale of 512 lots.

The 154th Hospices de Beaune sale is due to take place on November 16 in the covered market in Beaune.

[Source: Vitisphère; Photos: Hospices de Beaune]