Wine has been a staple at the dinner table and in people’s lives for centuries, but did you know the quality of wine increases over time? Which subsequently leads to an increase in value? These factors have made wine collection a popular hobby for many.
Wine collectors will buy rare and expensive wines, store them for a number of years and then sell them for a higher price. This is known as wine investment.
In this article, we take a look at ten of the world’s most expensive wines, summarising their prices, types, grape varieties and regions.
What makes wine so expensive?
Collectible wines, or investment-grade wines, are wines that could increase in price from their original cost as time goes on.
There are several elements to question to find out whether your wine is investment-grade or not, such as:
- Is the brand well known? Reputable brands create high-quality wines that have a high demand, which can mean a higher price.
- Does the wine have positive reviews from reputable critics?
- Will the quality increase when the wine ages?
- How many bottles of the wine have been produced? A limited-edition wine is going to be more expensive than a winemaker that produces many hundreds of thousands of bottles a year.
Ten of the world’s most expensive wines
Taking into account what is mentioned above, we have looked into ten of the most expensive wines in the world and why they carry such a high price tag.
Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier, Musigny Grand Cru
Producer: Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier
Average price: £13,595
Wine type: Red
Grape: Pinot Noir
Region: Burgundy, France
Domaine Georges Roumier is a wine producer that creates highly commended and expensive wines, based in the village Côte de Nuits in France. The vineyard consists of over approx. 28.5 acres of land across multiple regions of Burgundy.
‘Grand Cru’ is a classification of the quality of wines produced across Burgundy and Alsace and is the highest grade you can get. It means that the land the grapes grow on and the vineyard itself is of high quality, reaffirming the value of the wine.
Château Margaux
Producer: Château Margaux
Price: $225,000 (gained by insurance reimbursement in America)
Wine type: Red
Grape: Bordeaux blend
Region: Bordeaux, France
A bottle of this wine, created in 1787, was said to be a part of Thomas Jefferson’s personal collection.
A wine trader called William Sokolin later acquired it and took it to a dinner in Bordeaux, where the waiter knocked it off the table and smashed the bottle. Sokolin was later reimbursed with $225,000 by his insurance company, but the bottle was originally thought to be worth $500,000.
Domaine Leroy, Musigny Grand Cru
Producer: Domaine Leroy
Average price: £31,691
Wine type: Red
Grape: Pinot Noir
Region: Burgundy, France
Founded in 1868 by wine merchant François Leroy, the Domaine (vineyard) is now owned by Lalou Bize-Leroy, who also owns Domaine d’Auvenay.
This dry red wine is produced from Pinot Noir grapes and is the by-product of biodynamic farming. This ethical approach to farming provides nutrients to the plants by using their own composting measures, as opposed to using chemical fertilisers. Although more labour intensive, this method produces high-quality crops and is better for the environment.
Krug Vintage Brut Champagne
Producer: Krug
Price: Sold for £14,800
Wine type: Sparking wine
Grape: Champagne
Region: Champagne, France
Krug is known for being one of the renowned houses in the Champagne region, making their wines some of the most sought-after and expensive in the area.
In 2009, a bottle of Krug Vintage Brut Champagne, created in 1928, was sold at an Acker Merrall & Condit auction in Hong Kong. At the time, it was the most expensive bottle of Champagne ever sold at auction.
Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc
Producer: Screaming Eagle
Average price: £4,610
Wine type: White
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Oakville, USA
Although not the most expensive wine on the list, this is one of the most expensive white wines from the North Coast of the United States.
Established in 1986, Screaming Eagle is based in Napa Valley in the USA and is one of the original cult wines to be created in the area. Its higher prices stem from their low production numbers.
Domaine Leflaive, Montrachet Grand Cru
Producer: Domaine Leflaive
Average price: £12,430
Wine type: White
Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
This particular domaine does sell wines that are significantly cheaper, but as these grapes are harvested from vineyards with a Grand Cru classification, therefore increases their value.
This barrel-fermented wine has a buttery and citrus flavour.
Liber Pater
Producer: Liber Pater
Average price: The 2015 variety had an average price of £27,500
Wine type: Red
Grape: Bordeaux blend
Region: Bordeaux, France
This vintage wine was created in 2015, and due to its very low production numbers and the use of grapes from ungrafted vines, that makes them some of the most expensive wines in the world.
Château d’Yquem
Producer: Château d’Yquem
Price: Sold for £75,000
Wine type: Dessert
Grape: Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Sauternes, France
A bottle of Château d’Yquem, created in 1811, was sold in 2011 at the Ritz hotel by the Antique Wine Company, rare wine experts. It was sold for £75,000 to Christian Vanneque, and at the time, the Guinness Book of World Records stated that was the most expensive standard bottle of white wine to be sold at auction.
The wine bottle is said to be on display in Mr Vanneque’s restaurant in Bali, protected by bulletproof glass.
Domaine Leroy, d’Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
Producer: Domaine d’Auvenay (part of Domaine Leroy)
Average Price: £23,439
Wine Type: White
Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Domaine d’Auvenay is owned by Lalou Bize-Leroy, making it part of Domaine Leroy. This four-acre estate, which is not solely for this particular Chardonnay, means that production numbers are small.
Egon Müller, Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
Producer: Egon Müller
Average Price: £12,147
Wine Type: Dessert
Grape: Riesling
Region: Mosel, Germany
Based in the Saar Valley in Germany, the producer Egon Müller’s family has solely worked with the Riesling grape since their inception in 1797, creating a sweet dessert wine with citrus flavours.
Why should I invest in wine?
Wine is a great alternative to traditional investment methods like buying stocks or bonds. Expensive wines have very little connection to the global stock market and is a lot more consistent than gold and real estate.
Investing in wine also gives you a great excuse to expand your wine collection!
Your wine investment journey starts here
WineCap gives you access to the top investible wine allocations. Once we have discovered your preferences, you will have access to a vast portfolio of the most investable wines stored in secure government bonds.
We don’t charge a management fee and our brokerage charges are very low, so you have access to rare wines at a fair price.
To start your wine investment journey, schedule a consultation with one of our experts.
