Hospices de Nuit is a charitable foundation established in 1692 in Nuits-Saint-Georges. Like its much larger cousin the Hospices de Beaune foundation and wine auction, Hospices de Nuit holds an annual charitable wine auction. King Louis XIV, the Sun King, had several small charitable hospitals consolidated to make the Hospices de Nuit. The Hospices de Nuit auction is held each year two weeks before Easter and the wines come from 22 acres owned by the foundation. The vineyards are mostly Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru and village parcels. For several centuries grapes grown on the 22 acres were sold off in bulk. But starting in 1961 Hospices de Nuits held its own auction. Though the Hospices de Nuit event is much lower profile that the Hospices de Beaune auction, Clive Coates has written that Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges “is a fine estate.” Unlike at Hospices de Beaune, this charitable domain has its own team of viticulteurs.