Fight Charcot, a French charity founded by François Ponnelle, who has been living with Motor Neurone Disease for seven years, is organising an exceptional evening including a wine auction on Saturday 6th December 2025 in the historic 15th century Hospices de Beaune building in Burgundy, France. In partnership with charity Les Invincibles, the goal is to raise funds for research into a cure for the disease. The soirée will open with a recital by pianist Anne Queffélec, followed by a dinner prepared by four Michelin-starred chefs for 280 guests. iDealwine will host a wine auction on its online platform which will open on 25th November and end on the 6th December as the gala evening comes to a close. Some very rare lots will also be auctioned live by iDealwine during the dinner. This promises to be an exceptional evening in one of the wine world’s most special locations, as famous for wine as it is for the great causes it has championed over the centuries.
The auction will open for bids online on November 25th and will close online at on December 6th at 10.30pm (CET).
Exceptional Food and Wine in a Unique Setting
Renowned luxury catering company Maison Butard Enescot is at the helm along with executive chef Jean-Luc Mothu. The evening begins in the famous Salle des Pôvres at the Hôtel-Dieu at the Hospices de Beaune, where internationally renowned pianist Anne Queffélec will give a recital. This will be followed by dinner at the equally historical Bastion of the Hospices de Beaune.
Michelin-starred chefs Jacques Marcon (three stars), Patrick Henriroux (two stars), Pierre-Louis Vigilant (two stars), Jean-Michel Lorain (two stars) have all generously given their time to make this an outstanding dinner, along with Xavier Thuizat, sommelier of Paris’ Hôtel de Crillon, Meilleurs Ouvriers de France and Best Sommelier in France in 2022.
Guests will enjoy a six-course menu with wine pairings. All the wines served are donated by legendary Burgundy names including Domaines de L’Arlot, Arnoux-Lachaux, Hudelot-Noëllat, Matrot and Bachelet-Monnot.
On December 6th 2025, in Beaune and online, the Charity Auction hosted by iDealwine: all proceeds will go to Fight Charcot
The gala evening will also feature an auction hosted by iDealwine. In a tremendous show of generosity and solidarity, the wines auctioned were all donated by winemakers and estates directly, as were several immersive experiences.
Highlights include: magnums from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Bizot, Angerville, Dom Pérignon, Emidio Pepe, Étienne Sauzet, Comtes Lafon, Thibault Liger-Belair, Roulot, Pierre-Yves Colin Morey, Paul Pillot, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, Keller and Clos Rougeard; Jeroboams from Denis Mortet, Comte Senard, Ramonet, Pierre-Jean Villa, Bonneau du Martray, Domaine des Perdrix and Maison Joseph Drouhin; and bottles from Macle, Château d’Yquem, Château Cheval-Blanc, Clos des Lambrays and Screaming Eagle.
There are also private tastings at Burgundy estates to go under the hammer, as well as unique guided sporting and other immersive experiences.
The catalogue will be available online from 25 November 2025 on iDealwine.com. The sale will close online on 6th December at 10.30 p.m (CET). During the dinner, a few rare lots will also be auctioned on site by iDealwine. Licensed auctioneer and CEO of iDealwine, Cyrille Jomand, will personally wield the gavel on this occasion alongside artist Marine Bibas.
One goal: fundraising for research
Every ticket purchased for the evening at a price of €800, every donation and every auction bid will raise funds for research into Motor Neurone Disease, specifically to accelerate scientific studies, explore new avenues for treatment and give hope to everyone affected by this disease. All proceeds will be donated by the Les Invincibles to the Institut du Cerveau.
François Ponnelle, event organiser: “Because this disease doesn’t just affect other people…The support of iDealwine, the exceptional generosity of the entire French wine industry and the mobilisation of everyone involved in this evening’s event will enable us to bring awareness to a disease that remains such a mystery. Our fight will not stop there. We need you, every day, to raise awareness and make ALS (ALS / Motor Neurone Disease is known in France as La Maladie de Charcot) a distant memory. There is still a long way to go, but together, we will prevail”.
Cyrille Jomand, CEO of iDealwine and auctioneer: “We are tremendously inspired by François Ponnelle’s determination and commitment to this worthy cause. We are honoured and delighted to have been chosen to organise this exceptional auction. The iDealwine team are ready to make this auction a huge success”.
About the Charity Auction hosted by iDealwine
Date: Saturday, 6 December 2025
Location: Hospices de Beaune, Burgundy, France
Programme: 7pm recital by Anne Queffélec (Salle des Pôvres); 8.30pm seated dinner (Bastion)
Price: €800 per seat (full dinner with wine pairings: to purchase a ticket, please contact info@idealwine.com)
Online auction from 25 November to 6 December (10.30pm CET), accessible on iDealwine.com
To make a donation to La collecte de François via Les Invincibles, please click here.
