Top 10 List Most Expensive Wine In The World

Grapes’ growing conditions and limited ingredients play an important part in the rarity and expensiveness of wines today. The intricate and delicate process and the weather conditions accentuate its fine taste and robust flavor. No wonder these wines are sold for gargantuan prices over the decades.

Because of this, wine connoisseur and collectors alike covet good wines and keep on the shelf for months and years to enjoy on some special occasion or sell at an extraordinarily high price.

Obviously, wines can be a good investment – depending on the when and price you purchase the wine and sufficient demand for your collections.

With that said, let’s take a look at the most expensive wines in the world.

But before that,

Why Expensive Wines?

When it comes to the value of a wine, the higher the price, the more money invested in quality grapes. Cheap, affordable wines are produced in large quantities for the sake of profits. It’s only reasonable to expect the manufacturer to cut corners to be profitable.

Besides, most expensive wine brands use quality grapes for certain regions like Napa Valley, which leaves manufacturers with no choice than selling their wines at hefty prices.

So, when next you pick up a million-dollar wine, here are things you should think about: its small production, intricate and delicate winemaking, hand harvest grapes from specific regions, no or little residual sugar, and French oak barrels.

Top 10 List Most Expensive Wine In The World

#1 – Domaine de la Romanee-Conti “Romanee-Conti”

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti “Romanee-Conti” is the most expensive wine on the market, and each bottle is sold for about $19,000. This wine from DRC is made in a single vineyard in Cote d’Or in Burgundy.

This vineyard is 4.47 acres of Pinot Noir vines, which means limited high-quality grapes. This low-yield is one of many reasons the Romanee-Conti comes with a hefty price tag and forever in demand.

#2 – Screaming Eagle Cabernet 1992

Coming with a whopping $500,000 price tag, this wine is arguably the most pricey in the world. Screaming Eagle Cabernet, over the years, has always made it to the list of expensive wines in the world. In 2000, this half-a-million-dollar wine was sold at a charity auction.

This wine bottle has an opaque purple appearance, a blackcurrant aroma, and a finespun oak trace.

#3 – Jeroboam of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945

If you want to own or taste a good vintage, you can’t go wrong with Jeroboam of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945. This wine is produced using yields from the richest family’s vineyard. Thus, its $310,000 price tag may not seem so outrageous after all.

Another thing about this most expensive wine ever sold is it features a symbol indicating the Allied Forces’ victory in World War II. However, if the Jeroboam of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945 is too salty for you, then you should definitely try a glass for $8,631.

#4 – Cheval Blanc 1947 

Coming in at number four is Cheval Blanc 1947, arguably the best Bordeaux ever made. This wine was purchased by an anonymous buyer for $303,375. Besides, the Château Cheval Blanc is a prestigious winemaker.

#5 – Krug Clos d’Ambonnay Blanc de Noirs

We don’t know where you might get this wine, as it remains the rarest Champagne out there. The Krug Clos d’Ambonnay Blanc de Noirs was first produced in 1995 and was scarce from the onset.

This wine comes from a small 1.7 acres plot in the Champagne region capable of only producing 4,500 bottlings per vintage, and its aging length of up to 15 years makes this most expensive champagne very rare.

#6 – Shipwrecked 1907 Heidsieck

With a $275,000 price tag, the Shipwrecked 1907 Heidsieck makes it to the list. Aside from its high price point, this wine has an interesting and unique story that really explains its ridiculous pricing.

During World War I, in 1916, a German submarine torpedoed and sank a ship alongside the wine for more than 80 years. This ship and the wine were discovered in 1997, and 2,000 bottles of Shipwrecked 1907 Heidsieck were retrieved. For this wine, it’s not about the hefty price but a fascinating piece of history.

#7 – Ampoule from Penfolds

This extraordinary wine bottle cost around $168,000. The Ampoule is released by a famous winery, Penfolds, in South Australia. And while this wine does not have a rich history, the brand’s reputation, presentation, and experience justify its outrageous pricing. Each bottle of this wine offers an incredible tasting experience.

#8 – Chateau Lafite 1787

This vintage, priced at $156,450, is an ultra-expensive standard wine bottle. Plus, it has the initials of Thomas Jefferson, ThJ, etched in the glass, which makes the story of the Chateau Lafite coming from Thomas Jefferson’s cellar believable. Considering the age of this wine alone, the Chateau Lafite 1787 will always make it to any list.

#9 – Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1951

The Penfolds Grange Hermitage is the most expensive Australian wine sold in an auction in May 2004 for $38,420 in Adelaide, South Australia. Besides, there are only 20 bottles known to exist, which makes each bottle of this wine expensive.

#10 – Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru 2012

The Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru has a gentle, silky texture and a flowery taste, which is probably why it’s described as a sumptuous and magical wine. If this bottle of wine is sold based on the reputation of its state alone, then it’s worth every penny.

FAQs on most expensive wine in the world

1). What makes a wine expensive?

There are several factors that contribute to a wine’s expense:

1) the quality

2) the region (including terroir and production costs),

3) vintage,

4) age,

5) rarity of grape varietal,

6) vineyard location and exposure. A general rule of thumb is RARITY EQUALS EXPENSIVE. The more rare or obscure the grape or winemaking process (such as making sparkling wine), the higher the price will be for those wines.

Nature plays a role in cost as well. For example, older vintages tend to increase in value faster than their younger counterparts because they are rarer due to being less popular years – particularly among collectors.

All wines will increase in value as they age, but many wines decrease in value after a certain point because the demand for them decreases over time or because people move on to other wines. The highest-valued Bordeaux wines are those from the very top producers and from great vintages, such as 2000 – both of which are very expensive to purchase new.

If you don’t have several hundred dollars or more to spend on a bottle of wine, then you probably shouldn’t be shopping for that type of wine anyway – stick with cheaper options until your budget allows it. Asking if an inexpensive wine can taste good is like asking if a cheap car can get you from A to B. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If you stick with the better-quality wines, you’ll find that they are all very good.

2). How do I know if a wine is expensive?

The most common way to judge cost (for retail wines) is based on the price per bottle; however, this does not always indicate whether or not it will be an expensive wine.

To understand what actually makes up the price of a bottle of wine, you need to look at the yield (how much juice was produced for that year from that grape varietal), number of bottles sold, age of the vines and fruit used, etc.

Consider these factors when making your purchase decision – because it could save you hundreds of dollars! A seemingly inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon may turn out to be quite expensive, if it has an extremely low yield and is produced very rarely.

3). What are some tips to know if a wine is good or not?

Unfortunately, there are no sure-fire ways of knowing whether a wine will be good or not – even for experienced tasters. However, the following guidelines should help you make better decisions about how much you want to spend on that bottle:

1) If the wine is more expensive than average (based on what you normally pay for wines), then it probably tastes better than average as well, but this isn’t always true.

2) Look at the grape varietal – certain grapes have higher quality levels than others because they’re easier to grow, so more wineries choose them over others. For example, producers of wine in warmer climates (such as California and Italy) tend to make wines from grapes like Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon – because they’re very popular and requested, but can be lower quality when grown in certain regions.

3) Check the vintage; older vintages generally sell for more money than younger years do.

4) Look at the winery’s website or ask your local wine retailer for additional information about each wine that you’re interested in purchasing. It may help to focus on reputable names with a good track record across time rather than just judging by current releases.

4). What are some ways to save money on expensive wines?

Some tips:

1) Make sure you know what types of wines you like and what you’re willing to spend on them, so that you don’t get caught up in the hype of new releases and trends. Like mentioned above, this is where experience comes into play – especially if you’ve been drinking wine for a while.

2) If you typically buy cheaper bottles of wines, then focus on buying whatever wines are actually more expensive rather than just looking at the price tag. This may mean having to branch out from your comfort zone and trying some new things (which can be fun!).

3) Drink less wine! The best way to enjoy it and not feel bad about spending a lot of money on it is by drinking it in moderation; better yet…enjoy other beverages as well since they’ll help keep you from getting a nasty hangover the next day.

4) Buy more wine by the case, so that you only have to pay for shipping once and can save 10-15% on each of your orders – plus it will be delivered right to your door.

5). What are some common mistakes people make when buying expensive wines?

Some mistakes that people tend to make are:

1) They buy wine based on the winemaker’s name alone without knowing anything about their track record with that specific grape varietal or how they typically produce wines.

2) They pay attention only to single vineyard wines and ignore others that may be just as good but are sourced from different areas of a region or country.

3) They judge what is by its vintage rather than simply trying the wine first.

4) They are distracted by all of the latest labels that have just been released and pay too much attention to them – again, focusing only on the winemaker’s name. See? This is why it’s important to know what you’re doing before going out and spending a lot of money on wine!

6). How can I impress others with my knowledge about expensive wines?

1) Attend seminars or classes so you can learn more in-depth information about certain varietals, regions, and vintages; many times this type of education will not be available at your local retail store.

2) Read books and magazines written by seasoned veterans who have tried literally hundreds or even thousands of different over their lifetime (like Robert Parker, Jancis Robinson, Hugh Johnson, and Karen MacNeil).

3) Go on wine trips to different regions of the world where the grapes originated from (like France or Italy) – this will give you first-hand experience with wines and their respective styles.

7). Will expensive wines make me more sophisticated and increase my reputation?

If you’re really looking to impress others with your knowledge about fine wines, then yes; however it may be hard for some people to take you seriously if they think that all you care about is status.

 

Conclusion

Hopefully, you enjoy our list of the top 10 most expensive wine in the world. While some people sought-after wines for their taste and rich history, collecting wines can also be a decent investment.

Sadly, not everyone can purchase a bottle of these beauties. However, you can always order a glass of these big-ticket wines and enjoy their flavorful aroma and rich taste.

Refer: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-50-most-expensive-wines-world-julien-miquel