Papal Burgundy shipments revealed

Cave des Hospices de Nuits-Saint-Georges

What links Barack and Michelle Obama, the late Pope Francis I, his Swiss Guard, and high-powered industrialists in Europe and Asia? Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru, it turns out...

After a Rioja winery recently said it was concerned for the future of its unique Papal cuvée (Rioja Winery Mourns Pope's Death) in the light of the passing of Pope Francis, this week Meursault-based Yannick Kerric (managing director at négociant operation Jean-François Thurot) revealed that, since 2015, he would send bottles of Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Terres Blanches, acquired from the Hospices de Nuits charity auction to the Pope.

Kerric, who, as the head of a major wine négociant with clients primarily in Switzerland, Europe and Asia, buys by the pièce (a 228-liter barrel – the equivalent of around 300 bottles of wine), said he initially sent four cases (48 bottles) to the Vatican.

"We sent the wine to the Pope with a little note saying we were being true to the principle of Saint Francis of Assisi [poverty and fraternity] and that we hoped His Holiness would accept and share the gift," Kerric told local radio station France Bleu. "Every year we send several cases."

The wine was reportedly accepted because it came from the Hospices auction, the proceeds of which go to the maintainance of its retirement home and the upkeep of Nuits-Saint-Georges hospital. According to Kerric, Pope Francis shared the wine with his Swiss Guard as well as keeping some aside for ceremonial use.

Only 900 bottles of the cuvée are produced in a good year and the label generally ends up gracing the cellars of clients ranging from Swiss, French and Asian industrialists to the Obamas. Would the new Pope, Leo XIV, be getting any?

"As long as [Kerric]'s the buyer, I think this gift will be made every year," said Hospices de Nuits manager, Jean-Marc Moron.