The 10 Most Expensive Wines Ever Sold, Worth Up to $558,000

Most wines are typically enjoyed shortly after purchase and usually cost less than $50 per bottle. Yet, some rare bottles make headlines at auctions, selling for astonishing prices.

What drives the extraordinary value of these exceptional wines? Collectors and enthusiasts closely watch these auctions because such wines are often linked to historic events, celebrated vintages, or famous figures and moments.

These high-profile sales stir excitement within the wine community. A dedicated group of collectors eagerly chases after these rare treasures, saving them for special occasions. Much like art collectors who seek masterpieces by Picasso or Warhol, wine collectors pursue the ultimate, coveted bottle.

10 Most Expensive Wines Ever Sold

What is The Most Expensive Wine Ever Sold?

In 2018, a bottle of wine sold in Switzerland for a staggering $558,000, setting a world record that remains unbeaten today. Why would someone pay more than half a million dollars for a single bottle? The answer lies in the winery’s prestige, the wine’s extreme rarity, and its age. Keep reading for the full story!

1. 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Price Realized: $558,000
Year Sold: 2018

What Made It So Valuable: Only 600 bottles were produced in 1945, the final year the vineyard used older vines before replanting. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (often called DRC) is one of Burgundy’s most revered vineyards. A 1945 bottle from a private collection was expected to fetch around $32,000 but sold for 17 times that, smashing records. This sale greatly influenced prices for similar bottles thereafter.

2. 1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon

Price Realized: $500,000
Year Sold: 2000

What Made It So Valuable: The inaugural vintage from this Napa winery sold for half a million dollars only eight years after production. Its limited annual production (about 500 cases) and long waiting list to join the winery’s club have made Screaming Eagle a cult favorite, despite its relatively recent emergence.

3. 1945 Château Mouton-Rothschild

Price Realized: $310,000
Year Sold: 2006

What Made It So Valuable: A late frost in 1945 dramatically reduced the vintage size, while the grapes were unusually ripe with alcohol content around 15%. Each bottle features a “V” for victory label commemorating WWII’s end. Before the 2018 record by DRC, this wine held the record price, especially notable in the jeroboam size auctioned.

4. 1947 Château Cheval Blanc

Price Realized: $304,375
Year Sold: 2010

What Made It So Valuable: Considered one of the winery’s best vintages, the 1947 harvest ranks alongside the legendary 1921 vintage. Located in Bordeaux’s Saint-Émilion, Château Cheval Blanc dates back to 1832. An imperial-size bottle sold at Christie’s set a world record for a single bottle auction at the time.

5. 1907 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne

Price Realized: $275,000
Year Sold: Unknown

What Made It So Valuable: Known as “Shipwreck Champagne,” 200 bottles were salvaged from a 1916 shipwreck off Finland, destined for Czar Nicholas II’s court. Only a dozen bottles are available at The Ritz-Carlton Moscow, making this the priciest Champagne ever sold.

6. 1869 Château Lafite-Rothschild

Price Realized: $230,000
Year Sold: 2010

What Made It So Valuable: This bottle marks two milestones: the first vintage bottled at Lafite and the first under Baron James de Rothschild’s ownership. Auctioned in Hong Kong, this pre-phylloxera vintage from Bordeaux was highly prized due to its rarity and historical significance.

7. 1787 Château Margaux

Price Realized: $225,000
Year Sold: 1980s

What Made It So Valuable: Allegedly owned by Thomas Jefferson, whose initials are etched on the bottle. Château Margaux is among Bordeaux’s top-tier wineries. This bottle, discovered in 1985 and insured for $225,000, tragically broke at a New York hotel in 1989, making it the most expensive broken bottle in history.

8. 2004 Penfolds Kalimna Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon

Price Realized: $168,000
Year Sold: 2012

What Made It So Valuable: This Australian wine is encased in a hand-blown glass ampoule within a handcrafted wooden cabinet. Only 12 bottles were made, combining exquisite craftsmanship with exceptional wine, making this an extraordinary collector’s item.

9. 1787 Château Lafite

Price Realized: $156,450
Year Sold: 1985

What Made It So Valuable: Like the 1787 Château Margaux, this bottle bears Thomas Jefferson’s etched initials. Owned by the Rothschild family since the 1800s, Château Lafite was a favorite of Jefferson, adding to its historic allure and high auction value.

10. 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Price Realized: $123,900
Year Sold: 2007

What Made It So Valuable: The same iconic wine that took first place on this list, initially sold for $123,900 before reselling for $558,000 in 2018. Only 600 bottles were made, and its dramatic price increase illustrates how quickly rare wines can appreciate in value.

What Makes Certain Wines So Expensive?

Many factors separate affordable wines from those priced in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. These include grape quality, soil composition, climate conditions, labor intensity, barrel type, aging, and vineyard yield. Sometimes, a wine’s auction price is influenced more by its history or previous ownership by notable figures than by its taste alone.

Is the Most Expensive Wine the Best Tasting Wine?

While affordable wines can taste excellent, expensive wines often justify their price with meticulous production, superior ingredients, and aging potential. However, taste remains subjective, and the priciest bottle isn’t always the best to everyone’s palate.

Can You Drink 100-Year-Old Wine?

Properly stored wine can be enjoyable after 100 years, though many wines reach their peak before 50 years. Long-lasting wines are rare and typically from top producers with ideal storage conditions.