Often regarded as the nectar of Gods themselves, it possesses a superior hold on luxury collectors and connoisseurs. Wine auctions have been a thing for centuries now, where enthusiasts have flown across continents to claim the most expensive wines in the world. If there’s one thing anyone knows about wine, it is that it only gets better with age. Read on to learn more about the wines, their legacy, and more.
The Most Expensive Bottles of Wine
Factors like terroir, winemaking methods, and vintage distinguish each masterpiece from the other. Sometimes, a unique twist is spun on the design. It may resemble a political breakthrough or an unexpected collaboration. This fine, sophisticated drink is a portal back in time when royalty was alive. Some of the brands listed here date back 100 to more than 1,000 years. Indulge in fruity, sweet, and classy wine from different parts of the world. Auctioned at various occasions, these bottles are the rarest of wines.
1. Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 1945
This fine bottle of wine takes the title of the most expensive wine sold worldwide. Coming straight from the source, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 145 becomes a DRC legacy coined by none other than the father-son duo of the Dragons. It made history in the wine auction of 2018, breaking the record set by Sotheby’s in America back in February of 2007. The house takes the win again when it sells the two bottles out of the limited collection of 600 of this luxury drink.
2. Jeroboam of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945
If one of the most sophisticated wines is on your radar, Jeroboam of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945 is your match. It crowns the list of the best and most expensive wines in the world. It is aromatic and delicious; each sip is a delicate fusion of rich fruits and surreal texture. Although the wine is about six decades into its lifetime, its origins stretch beyond the horizon. Derived from the most prestigious and sacred vineyards, each sip will take you for a spin. Look for the V on its label. It is symbolic of the Allied forces in World War II.
3. Château Lafite 1869
The most expensive wines in the world are here to take a seat at the table, owing to Chateau Lafite 1869 carries a strong legacy and comes with a jaw-droppingwith ’s jaw-dropping record. The red wines fandom will be happy to know that it is one of the top products of the Bordeaux vineyard in France. The unexpected outcome of this red wine threw the auctioneer off-guard, selling 30 times the original price by an anonymous buyer based in Asia. Take a sip of one of the first brainchilds of the Pauillac. It will surely transport you to the crisp vineyards and rustic times of the 17th Century.
4. Shipwrecked 1907
There’s never a bad time to go for the King of Red Wine, Shipwrecked 1907. This masterpiece is a fighter being discovered from a shipwreck in the Gulf of Finland. It was retrieved from the shipwreck without a crack in the bottle. Although it didn’t make it to the original receivers of the Russian Imperial Family, it resurfaced as one of the most expensive wines in the world instead. Its age in the hundreds is no less of an achievement. Its 80-year worth of wait has gotten it to the 300-year mark and is popular amongst wine lovers across the world.
5. Ampoule from Penfolds
Indulge in intense, refined, and one-of-a-kind red wine with the Ampoule from Penfolds. True to its name, it is a pen-shaped bottle ready to floor your senses, starting with its crafty and rare design penned by a glass specialist. This bottle can only be opened when you break the bottom part of it.
Exploring its taste, rich undertones of flavours will hit your taste buds just right. Another distinguishing factor of this wine is that only 12 of these bottles exist in the world. Experience royal red wine in a contemporarily designed Ampoule as you read through your list of the most expensive wines in the world.
6. Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenaausleese
Born in the heart of the Mosel region of Germany, the Muller family’s gardening skills still pay after a century in. The grapes that the wine is juiced out of are the main deal here. They are exceptionally sweet, rare, and artfully rich in flavour. of this wine. The most expensive wines in the world are blended with the ideal ripening conditions that you can tell in your first taste of it. This is the case of Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese that scored a shocking 6-star out of his usual five by Michael Broadbent back in the day
7. Speyer Wine Bottle
The Speyer Wine Bottle carries a story like no other. Discovered in the tomb of a Roman couple, it was the only bottle mixed with enough olive to keep it in good shape. It has over 1,700 years’ worth of history in it and holds an unmatched flavour. With dolphin-tail handles and charming glass, its design is no short of a cultural epitome either. Being one of the most expensive wines in the world, it lived its fair share of time in the prestigious Pfalz Historical Museum in Germany. Add elegance and style to festivities with this sacred addition.
8. Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon
Peaked at half a million dollars, the Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon was auctioned in Napa Valley, California, and cooked in a family home by Jean Phillips. Everyone was charmed by the dynamic flavour of blackberry infused with vanilla, milk, and toasty oak; even the critics couldn’t resist giving perfect scores. In 2010, its action records flew off the charts in California. Its unparalleled quality, hours of honest work, and striking blend of undertones make it a must-have among the most expensive wines in the world.
8. Cheval Blanc 1947
Our list would not be complete without the mention of Bordeaux’s best work yet. One of the crucial ingredients to perfecting its recipe was the hot weather itself in Geneva, in 1947. This factor makes it physically impossible to replicate this wine. The fiercest critics, like Michael Broadbent himself, penned an astonishing review. It inclines on high alcohol concentration laced with savoury flavours of spices, oak, and vanilla. Despite this bold approach to wine-making, Cheval Blanc still emerged as one of the most expensive wines in the world, back then, as well as in the present-day scenario.
10. Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1999
If you’re looking for a bottle of wine that tingles your senses but only gets better with time, Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1999 is your choice. Whether it's the maker’s popularity that resulted in this wine’s boom or the quality itself is a mystery to the non-buyers. Critics have praised the outworldly hints of spices, minerals, and vintage feel of this wine for decades on end. Amidst the most expensive wines in the world, Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1999 will quickly earn a soft spot in your wine collection.
11. J.S. Terrantez Madeira
Not all the most expensive wines in the world are the oldest of the bunch. Some rare ones like J.S Terrantez Madeira pull through for the connoisseurs. Live out your wine collection dream and add this 20-year-old wine to it. Save it for a couple of decades and be one of the only people to see its potential jump off the cork. Its citric notes and sweet tones make the perfect fit for occasions when you want to drink light and have fun at the same time.
12. Avenue Foch 2017
Sparkling wines or Champaigns are some of the most expensive wines in the world. Avenue Foch 2017 is a sought-after drink on a global scale. It sold for 2.5 million dollars at a wine auction. The bidders were at the edge of their seats, not just because of the divine liquid inside it, but also for the bottle it was encased in. The design contains an ape mutant and other intriguing figures, signifying the then-recent partnership between the owner of the Bored Ape Mutant Yacht Club NFT and a British entrepreneur, Mig and Shammi Shinh, respectively.
Wines are part of culture, history, and, of course, celebrations. Why settle for anything short of extraordinary when surrounded by family and friends? The most expensive wines in the world don’t only rank high in standard, they also climb up the list in terms of taste. Get a seat at one of these auctions held around the globe and see the magic unfold.
