(Wine-Searcher) - The Hospices de Beaune auction has found new causes to help.

France's most celebrated charity wine auction smashed all previous records and a portion of the takings will go to help victims of the Paris attacks, organizers have announced.

The Hospices de Beaune charitable hospital's 115th auction saw bids come in from around the world, easily outstripping the previous record sum for the centerpiece lot of €400,000 in 2010. That lot, a 2015 Corton Les Renardes grand cru, which can sell for as much as €1000, depending on the producer, went to an anonymous French buyer. It more than doubled the €220,000 raised for the "pièce des présidents" last year, according to Christie's international general director, Aline Sylla-Walbaum.

Sunday's auction was preceded by a minute's silence for the 129 people known to have been killed in Friday's coordinated attacks. Attendees then sang the French national anthem, the Marseillaise.

The money raised will be split between Paris victims and two associations which the event usually supports – the Curie cancer institute and a foundation for brain tumor research.

Ludivine Griveau, the hospice winemaker who was overseeing the event, said a shadow lay over this year's auction following the attacks. But Claude Chevalier head of the Burgundy Wine Board (BIVB), said: "The show must go on. The best we can do is show our determination not to be afraid."

The auction is traditionally preceded by dancing, fairs and other events, but this year they were low key and no music was played. Flags decked in bows of mourning flew at half mast. On Saturday, a spontaneous round of fundraising saw more than €40,000 raised for the attacks' victims, according to BIVB deputy president Louis-Fabrice Latour.