If you are a wine lover and have a lot of money to spend, you might be interested in this list of the top 10 most expensive wines in the world. These wines are not only rare and exquisite, but also have a history and a story behind them. Here are the top 10 most expensive wines in the world, as of 2023:
10. Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 1975 (~$132,200)
This German white wine is made from grapes that are affected by noble rot, a fungus that shrivels and concentrates the sugar and flavor of the grapes. The wine is extremely sweet and complex, with aromas of honey, apricot, and citrus. Only 200 bottles were produced in 1975, making it one of the rarest and most sought-after wines in the world.
9. Penfolds Block 42 Kalimna Shiraz 2004 (~$168,000)
This Australian red wine is made from the oldest continuously producing cabernet sauvignon vines in the world, dating back to 1888. The wine is rich and powerful, with flavors of blackberry, chocolate, and spice. Only 12 bottles were made in 2004, each encased in a glass ampoule that preserves the wine for decades.
8. Ampoule from Penfolds (~$168,000 to $170,000)
Penfolds released a limited edition glass Ampoule in 2012, containing 2004 Kalimna Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon. This rare wine is stored in a truly distinctive format, with only twelve handmade vessels in existence, each individually numbered. The Penfolds Ampoule is a testament to fine wine, South Australian heritage, and the skills of the region’s finest craftsmen. Four of whom were commissioned to collaborate with the winemaking team on this distinctive project.
Only twelve handmade vessels were made, each individually numbered. The price of the Penfolds Ampoule is $168,000 (Australian) each.
7. Chateau Lafite 1869 – $230,000
This French red wine is one of the oldest and most prestigious wines in the world, from one of the five first growths of Bordeaux. The wine is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and petit verdot, with a delicate and elegant style that has aged gracefully for over 150 years. The wine is also historically significant, as it was produced during the Franco-Prussian War and was owned by Napoleon III.
6. Château Margaux 1787 – Price: $225,000
This French red wine is another one of the five first growths of Bordeaux, and one of the oldest wines in existence. The wine is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, petit verdot, and malbec, with a refined and balanced character that has survived the test of time. The wine is also famous for being owned by Thomas Jefferson, who was an avid wine collector and ambassador to France.
5. Shipwrecked 1907 Heidsieck – $275,000
This French sparkling wine is one of the most unique and intriguing wines in the world, as it was salvaged from a shipwreck that occurred in 1916. The wine was originally destined for the Russian imperial family, but was sunk by a German submarine during World War I. The wine was rediscovered in 1997 by divers in the Baltic Sea, and was found to be remarkably well-preserved due to the cold and dark conditions. The wine has a rich and complex flavor, with notes of nuts, honey, and toast.
4. Cheval Blanc 1947 – Price: $304,375
This French red wine is so good that it deserves to be on this list twice. This is because there are two different bottlings of Cheval Blanc 1947: one that was bottled at the estate (château), and one that was bottled by a merchant (négoce). The château bottling is considered superior to the négoce bottling, as it has more concentration and intensity. However, both bottlings are extremely rare and valuable.
This French red wine is considered one of the greatest wines ever made, and one of the best vintages of Cheval Blanc, a premier grand cru classé from Saint-Émilion. The wine is a blend of merlot and cabernet franc, with a unique and complex bouquet of fruit, leather, tobacco, and spice. The wine is extremely rare, as only 110,000 bottles were produced in 1947, and many were destroyed or damaged by heat and oxidation over the years.
3. Jeroboam of Château Mouton-Rothschild 1945 (~$310,000)
This French red wine is another one of the five first growths of Bordeaux, and one of the most legendary vintages of Mouton-Rothschild. The wine is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, petit verdot, and malbec, with a powerful and expressive style that reflects the end of World War II. The wine is also notable for being bottled in a jeroboam (a large format bottle that holds four standard bottles), which adds to its rarity and value.
2. Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 (~$500,000)
This American red wine is one of the most iconic and expensive wines from Napa Valley, California. The wine is made from cabernet sauvignon, with a small amount of merlot and cabernet franc, and has a smooth and elegant style that showcases the terroir of the Oakville appellation. The wine is extremely scarce, as only 175 cases were produced in 1992, and many of them were sold at charity auctions for record-breaking prices.
1. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1945 (~$558,000)
This French red wine is the most expensive wine in the world, and arguably the best. The wine is made from pinot noir, from a single vineyard in Burgundy that is considered the finest and most exclusive in the world. The wine has a sublime and ethereal quality, with aromas and flavors of red fruits, flowers, earth, and spices. The wine is also extremely rare, as only 600 bottles were produced in 1945, which was the last vintage before the vines were replanted due to phylloxera (a vine pest).
