At the event organised jointly by the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta and the Budapest Wine Festival, all 36 auction lots found new owners, fetching a total of HUF 15.58 million. This year’s proceeds will support the Service’s craft workshops, where work and creativity play an important role in helping people move towards greater independence.
For more than a quarter of a century, the Charity Wine Auction has shown that the value of a wine can extend far beyond what is in the bottle. Once again, bidders had the chance to compete for lots rarely found in everyday wine shops. The selection included wines from several decades, carefully curated collections, rare magnum bottles and even a six-litre bottle of sparkling wine.
How much did bidding drive up the prices?
The 36 lots donated for the auction had a combined opening price of HUF 2.23 million. By the end of the bidding, the total had risen to nearly HUF 16 million, meaning the wines and sparkling wines sold for almost seven times their opening prices.
The highest hammer price of the evening went to a six-litre Impériale bottle of Arthur Metz Prestige Brut Crémant, which sold for HUF 1.5 million.
One of the auction’s greatest strengths, however, is that the smaller lots contribute just as much to the shared result as the headline-grabbing bids. Donations from winemakers and wine merchants, together with the bidders’ participation, helped make it possible for the initiative to raise substantial support once again this year.
Rare bottles that inspired spirited bidding
The bidding showed that the exceptional bottles, their stories and the auction’s charitable purpose all captured the guests’ interest.
One of the evening’s most striking results came from a magnum of Bodri Winery’s 2017 Gold Optimus Szekszárd cuvée. Starting at HUF 30,000, it eventually sold for HUF 700,000—more than 23 times its opening price.
Kreinbacher Estate’s 2020 Brut Nature Rosé OP-ART Edition magnum also attracted strong interest: the sparkling wine rose from an opening bid of HUF 30,000 to HUF 500,000. A magnum of Dúzsi Winery’s 2018 Görögszó sold for HUF 460,000, more than 15 times its opening price.
Among the highest-priced lots was a selection from Bock Cellar featuring three outstanding vintages, which sold for HUF 700,000. A special three-bottle selection of Italian Prosecco attracted a bid of HUF 750,000, while the 1975 Oremus Tokaji Aszú and a magnum of Drappier Grande Sendrée 2008 each fetched HUF 600,000.
A selection of wines awarded Champion status at the 2026 VinAgora International Wine Competition also featured in the auction, contributing HUF 320,000 to the shared result.
There were other ways to support the cause, too
Guests could also purchase Prosecco from the Hungarian Charity Service’s selection for HUF 30,000 per bottle, raising a further HUF 1,080,000. Another HUF 95,000 was donated through the adomanyozz.hu platform. Together with Michelin’s contribution of HUF 300,000, the total amount raised reached HUF 17,055,000.
Hands That Create Value
Hands That Create Value is the guiding principle behind how this year’s auction proceeds will be used. In the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta’s craft workshops, people with disabilities and people from disadvantaged backgrounds work, create and learn new skills while becoming part of a supportive community.
In these workshops, the creative process is at least as important as the objects produced. Regular work, the opportunity to develop and recognition for a job well done help build confidence, independence and social connections. The workshops also need suitable equipment, materials, professional support and a stable operating environment.
The proceeds raised at the Charity Wine Auction provide tangible support. They help sustain activities that create value in their own right.
Twenty-six years of a shared purpose
For 26 years, the Charity Wine Auction, organised jointly by the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta and the Budapest Wine Festival, has brought together the Hungarian wine community in support of social responsibility.
This year’s result is a shared achievement of the wineries, donors and bidders.
Thank you all for your generous support, and thank you to our winemakers for their donations!
