The Top 10 Most Expensive Bottles of Wine in the World Today

As one of the first five wine estates to be developed, Margaux has been recognized as a top-tier wine since 1855. During the classification by Napoléon III, Margaux was the only estate to be rated 20/20. This exclusive Bordeaux wine holds the record for one of the most expensive bottles ever sold. Wine merchant William Sokolin of New York once owned this Château Margaux bottle on consignment. It is believed to have once belonged to Thomas Jefferson, with the initials 'Th.J.' engraved on the bottle, similar to the previously mentioned Château Lafite. Château Margaux 1787, part of Jefferson's collection, may have been the priciest wine ever sold (valued at $500,000). However, when Sokolin brought the bottle to a Margaux dinner at the Four Seasons hotel in New York in 1989, a server accidentally dropped and destroyed it.

The prestigious status of Margaux has been recognized long before 1855. It was featured in an auction advertisement in the London Gazette in 1705, and the 1771 Margaux was the first wine ever listed in Christie's catalog. The estate's history dates back to the 16th century. In 1784, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson ordered Margaux, writing: 'No Bordeaux wine can be finer.' The Château Margaux 1787 inspired an opera of the same name, composed in 1887. A 2015 orchestral version was recorded, and a humorous opera based on the wine aired in Spain in 2017. Today, the estate primarily uses organic farming methods for its vineyards. As of 2017, 100% of Grand Vin's grapes are grown organically.

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, IronGate.Wine auctioned one of the most iconic wines in the world, the 1869 Lafite-Rothschild, which was approaching its own 150th anniversary. In a 2010 Sotheby’s wine auction in Hong Kong, three bottles of Château Lafite-Rothschild sold for $233,972 each to an anonymous Asian bidder. Initially estimated at $60,000 each, these bottles saw intense bidding. According to The Drinks Business, these 750ml bottles fetched $232,692 each at the auction. This made them the most expensive standard-sized bottles of wine ever sold.

One of these bottles had previously been sold in Montreal in 2017 by the Quebec Liquor Board, where it was carefully verified by their team of experts. The 1869 Lafite-Rothschild was purchased from a collection that included wines from as far back as the 1920s, as well as a 1902 Lafite. This particular bottle is notable not only as a rare pre-phylloxera wine but also as one of the first ever bottled at the Château Lafite estate. It marked a historic moment as the first wine bottled under the ownership of Baron James de Rothschild. With the devastation of phylloxera in France during the late 1800s, this rare pre-phylloxera wine explains its exceptional price.

Wine connoisseurs often claim that the Château Cheval Blanc 1947 is not only the finest Cheval Blanc of the 20th century but also one of the best clarets ever produced during that time. However, this wine doesn’t conform to the typical model of fine Bordeaux; it’s rich, slightly sporty, with high alcohol content and volatile acidity. While its weight and transparency may seem unusual for Cheval Blanc, few who have tasted it can resist its fresh texture and captivating flavors. Its success, in a sense, is quite paradoxical, as no modern winemaker would dare produce a wine in such a style today. As French wine writer Michel Dovaz noted, 'The 1947 Cheval Blanc defies the rules of modern science.'

Regarded as one of the finest clarets globally, the Château Cheval Blanc 1947 is one of just four wines holding the prestigious Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) classification – the highest rank for Saint-Emilion wines. Only a few thousand cases of this Bordeaux have ever been produced, with most consumed upon release, making it an incredibly rare wine. In 2010, an Imperial-sized bottle, equivalent to eight 750ml bottles, was sold for $304,375 at a Christie's auction in Geneva. This was the only known bottle of this rare vintage in the Imperial format. In 1947, Cheval Blanc was under the ownership of the Foucaud-Laussac family, who had controlled the estate since the early 19th century. The estate remained in their hands until 1998 when it was acquired by Bernard Arnault, CEO of the luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, and Belgian billionaire Baron Albert Frère. In 1947, the estate was managed by Jacques Foucaud-Laussac.

One of the most intriguing items in the museum's collection is a bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild 1945, a Bordeaux red blend from France. (Gift of Steve Simmons, 2017. 354,001.) Another oversized bottle that achieved a record price at auction is this rare Château Mouton Rothschild from 1945. Due to a late frost that year, it’s the smallest bottle of Mouton produced since 1915. This 4.5-liter barrel, equivalent to six regular bottles, is adorned with a V for Victory, designed by artist Philippe Jullian, commemorating the end of World War II.

Château Mouton Rothschild is one of the renowned First Growths of Bordeaux in southwestern France. Other First Growths today include Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux, and Château Haut-Brion. The approved grape varieties for Bordeaux reds include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and small amounts of Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carménère. Today, Château Mouton Rothschild covers 222 acres, with a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Mouton is now considered 'First Growth' under Bordeaux’s classification system. However, for unclear political reasons, it was designated a Second Growth in 1855, a decision that deeply upset the Rothschild family despite still being an esteemed classification.

Alexander Valley Vineyards is owned and operated by the Wetzel family. Established in 1975, it occupies the former home of Cyrus Alexander. Currently, Wetzel Family Estate cultivates fourteen grape varieties across multiple sites, from the Russian River’s banks to the hillside slopes. Each grape variety is chosen for its compatibility with specific soil and exposure conditions. The third generation of the Wetzel family has now joined the winery, with Harry Wetzel IV serving as Assistant Winemaker and his brother Robert as National Sales Director. In 2017, during a charity auction dinner hosted by the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, a rare bottle of 2015 The Setting Wines Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon fetched $350,000. The event, alongside the sold-out Boudin, Bourbon, and Beer event, raised a total of $ million for children’s charities over that weekend.

Alexander Valley Vineyards produces 100,000 cases annually, offering 17 different wines and exclusive blends. Seventy-five percent of their production is red wine, with Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon accounting for about half of the total output. Other varieties include Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Gewurztraminer, Syrah, Sangiovese, Viognier, and Cabernet Franc. The Setting is a luxury wine collection created by friends Noah McMahon, Jeff Cova, and Jesse Katz. Jesse, an award-winning winemaker, has worked with renowned estates such as Château Petrus and Screaming Eagle. This 100% varietal wine, sourced from the SJ Vineyard, offers rich flavors of sweet tobacco, toasted coconut, and mocha, with a layered profile built on thick tannins and soft oak.

The iconic Screaming Eagle winery in Napa Valley, California, released its first vintage in 1992. Since then, the winery has grown exponentially, producing between 500 and 850 cases annually. The original owner, Jean Phillips, connected with winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett through the Robert Mondavi team. Their 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon received 99 points from wine critic Robert Parker. Screaming Eagle has become one of California's most famous and sought-after wines. Produced in limited quantities from a small vineyard in the Napa Valley’s Oakville region, the Cabernet Sauvignon often commands prices up to $3,000 per bottle, making it the most expensive regularly produced wine in the U.S.

Jean Phillips established the vineyard in 1986 and initially sold fruit to local Napa producers. After several years, the decision was made to build a winery, and the first classic release of Screaming Eagle came in 1992. Since then, the 1997 and 2007 vintages achieved perfect 100-point ratings. Reports suggest that over 4,000 people are on the Screaming Eagle membership waiting list. As a result, the public price for non-members is exceptionally high. A bottle of 1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon holds the record as the most expensive Napa Valley wine ever sold and remains the priciest wine produced in the United States. Screaming Eagle’s Sauvignon Blanc, introduced in 2012, was initially sold for $250 per bottle but quickly soared to ten times its release price on the secondary market.

The name Romanée-Conti alone sends shivers down the spine of wine enthusiasts around the world. Its price tag speaks volumes about its legendary status. The world's most expensive wine is the 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grand Cru from Burgundy, France. Only 600 bottles of this iconic wine were produced in 1945, which accounts for its astronomical price. Moreover, this was the final vintage from those particular vines, as they were subsequently uprooted and replaced with younger plants. The wine was aged in specially selected new oak barrels for three years, contributing to its exceptional quality. The complexity of its aromas is astonishing, blending scents of rose, violet, spices, truffles, and leather into a luxurious and intense bouquet.

The Sotheby’s auction estimate for this wine was $32,000, so the record sale price of $558,000 came as a surprise. Just minutes later, another bottle of rare vintage wine was sold for $496,000. These rare and priceless bottles belonged to Robert Drouhin, a renowned winemaker. His father, Maurice Drouhin, was the exclusive distributor of Romanée-Conti in France and Belgium from 1928 to 1964. When Germany invaded France in the 1930s, Maurice built a secret cellar wall to protect the wines. Maurice was a key figure in the French Resistance and served as a liaison officer to General Douglas MacArthur. The Gestapo discovered his activities and sent a death squad after him. However, Maurice was warned in time and managed to escape through the cellar tunnels, eventually finding refuge in the now-famous Hospices de Beaune during the liberation of France in 1944.

The legendary Chateau d'Yquem holds the world record for the most expensive white wine ever sold, as listed by Guinness World Records. This prestigious estate in the Sauternes region of France once belonged to the King of England during the medieval era. A vineyard was later established here and flourished under the stewardship of Françoise Joséphine de Sauvage d'Yquem. The wine became a favorite of connoisseurs, including U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. The 1811 vintage is especially renowned for its excellent harvest, and Chateau d'Yquem wines are known for their remarkable aging potential. This particular bottle was purchased by Christian Vanneque, a winemaker and restaurateur, who enjoyed it to mark his 50th anniversary in the wine industry.

Chateau d'Yquem has always commanded astronomical prices, especially after wine critics praised it as one of Bordeaux's greatest wines and one of the finest ever produced. Robert Parker awarded it a perfect 100 points, and in 1999, Per-Henrik Manson of The Wine Spectator did the same. However, this 200-year-old bottle had to undergo extensive verification to confirm its immense value. It came with an official "certificate of authentication," and its label was cross-checked with the 1811 paper labels stored in the estate's archives. A glass bottle examination also verified that its shape, contours, and color matched those from the early 19th century.

This Bordeaux wine, Château Lafite from 1787, remains one of the most expensive bottles in the world according to the Guinness World Records, even over 30 years later. Its remarkable age alone ensures its high price, but what makes this bottle particularly valuable, especially among American collectors, is the etched initials 'Th. J.' in the glass. Owned by the Rothschild family, Château Lafite in France is renowned for its Bordeaux wines. While Bordeaux wines can age for over 50 years, 200 years surpasses the lifespan of nearly any wine. The allure of such rare vintages, like this 1787 Lafite, lies more in their collectible value than in their consumability. This bottle was evidently acquired as part of a collection from Thomas Jefferson, not just as a wine, and is currently housed in the Forbes collection in New York.

This rare wine is another favorite of Thomas Jefferson, who, during his time as Ambassador to France, visited Bordeaux and Burgundy's vineyards extensively, purchasing wines for his own collection as well as for his friends back home. Jefferson is believed to have personally visited the estate and may have owned this very bottle, as evidenced by the initials 'TJ' etched in the glass. Malcolm Forbes, the publisher, purchased this Château Lafite bottle, though there have been doubts about its authenticity, earning it the nickname 'The Billionaire's Vinegar.'

The first non-French wine to make it onto the list of the world's most expensive wines comes from South Australia. This renowned winery ordered a hand-blown glass tube, placed inside a handcrafted wooden case. The limited edition Penfolds Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon, released in 2004, is priced at $168,000 per bottle. Its extraordinary cost comes from its rarity. The wine is made from some of the oldest cabernet sauvignon vines in the world, which were transplanted from France to Australia in the 1830s. These vines, now located in the Kalimna Vineyard in the Barossa Valley, northeast of Adelaide, produce a rare and exceptional juice.

As part of the sale, Penfolds' chief winemaker personally visited each buyer's home to assist in opening the bottle using a specially designed silver note opener, similar to a cigar cutter. Penfolds commissioned a scientific-grade glass tube to house each bottle, created by three Australian artists: Nick Mount, who designed and hand-blown the glass; silversmith Hendrik Forster, who crafted the metal details; and cabinetmaker Andrew Bartlett, who created the custom Jarrah display case. Only 12 bottles of Penfolds Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon were made. Made from 130-year-old vines, this wine is in high demand. The Barossa Valley wine has a rich complexity with notes of raspberry and macerated cherry. Of the 12 bottles, three will go to Russia, London, and Dubai, three to other parts of Asia, two to North America, and two to Australia. One bottle will be donated to charity for auction, while another will remain on display at Penfolds.