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Within the vast and profound world of oenology, there are certain exclusive typologies with incredibly high prices, which for many are even considered status symbols or cult objects revered by their collectors.
Whether because of their vineyard, their grape variety, their climatic conditions or the harmony between acidity and tannin, the 5 wines presented below have become the most expensive in the world.
5th place: Château Lafite-Rothschild 1869 – 195,000 euros
Château Lafite-Rothschild is owned by the Rothschild family, one of the world’s most famous wineries which, in 2010, at a Sotheby’s wine auction in Hong Kong, even sold one of its 1869 bottles for €195,000.
At the time, it was the most expensive 750 ml bottle of wine ever sold in history, due to issues such as its high quality and rarity, as well as its export from North America to Europe in the late 19th century.
4th place: Château Cheval Blanc 1947 – 276,000 euros
The emblematic winery Château Cheval Blanc located in St. Emilion (Bordeaux), is certified Grand Cru Classé A. due to the warmth that warms each of its vineyards.
In 2010, a wine collector went as high as €276,000 at auction for a 6-liter bottle of 1947 Château Cheval Blanc, made with Merlot and high proportions of Cabernet Franc.
3rd place: Romanée-Conti 1945 – 491,000 euros
The 1945 Romanée-Conti wine, which climbed to third place on the podium, also comes from a very famous Bordeaux winery: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
This unusual wine is made from Pinot Noir grapes whose vines were thinned and replanted after the harvest in the “La Tâche” plots.
The 1945 Grand Cru Romanée Conti 1945 therefore contains the last grapes from the winery’s old vines. One of the reasons that could boost its exclusivity, and justify the bidding of an anonymous bidder from Hong Kong who bid €491,000 for one of them at a 2018 Sotheby’s auction.
2nd place: Screaming Eagle 1992 – 528,000 euros
This Cabernet from Screaming Eagle Winery in Napa Valley, California, is from their 1992 debut vintage. A prestigious wine produced in limited units, it was purchased for $50,000 by actor Bailey Chase at a charity auction in 2000.
1st place: The Setting 2019 – €980,000
The single 6-liter bottle of Cabarnet Sauvignon from Jesse Katz’s ‘The Setting’ winery became a unique piece of winemaking in the world, which went on to set a new record as the world’s most expensive wine.
On November 6, 2021, businessman Don Steiner bought this bottle of Jeroboam Edition Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for a colossal $1,000,000, the equivalent of just under 980,000 euros, placing it at the pinnacle of winemaking.