15 Most Expensive Red Wines in the World
Nikole Stewart
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Who doesn’t enjoy a nice glass of wine at the end of a long day? I sure do. And while I enjoy a Moscato, most would opt for a higher-quality red wine.
But for those who enjoy collecting wine, you might be in the market to purchase some of the most expensive red wines in the world. Whether you’re looking for exquisite craftsmanship that is a conversation piece, or looking to find the oldest, rarest vintage in the world, then these are the best finds.
15. 1961 Paul Jaboulet Aine La Chapelle, $32,900
Sotheby’s is a common name when it comes to auctions for vintage and rare finds. One such find is this rare Paul Jaboulet Aine La Chapelle 1961 wine, an excellent bottle that has barely been touched by age.
This auction reached $32,000, making it one of the most expensive red wines in the world. Not only is this a rare find, but with a name like Paul Jaboulet, it’s worth even more. He’s easily one of the most prestigious producers from that period.
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14. 1847 Chateau d’Yquem, $40,000
Christie’s is home to several amazing products that you can bid for. From vintage jewelry to vintage wines. One of the most expensive red wines that you can search for here is Chateau d’Yquem 1847, which sold in 2017 for a high price of $40,000.
Not only is it amazing that such a vintage has lasted over time, but the history behind when this was made makes it even more valuable. This date lies on the most iconic events of the 19th century, where supposedly a Russian grand duke paid a high price for 100 cases of Yquem.
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13. 1985 Henri Jayer Richebourg, $57,555
Sotheby’s has yet another rare find from Henri Jayer, an extraordinary name in the industry.
This 1985 Richebourg reached $57,000 in an auction in 2012 from the Private Cellar of Henri Jayer. This is one of the most extraordinary wines as it’s extremely rare.
12. 2015 Domaine Leroy Musigny, $72,000
In 2022, Christie’s held an auction for one of the most sought-after wines. While it’s one of the most recent vintages in 2015, it’s still worth quite a bit.
This vintage from Domaine Leroy was worth upwards of $72,000, making it one of the most expensive red wines in the world. Domaine Leroy has produced some of the best red Burgundy wines, and it shows with this beautiful edition.
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11. Château Mouton Rothschild 1945, $108,416
Yet another auctioned wine that exceeds expectations is the Chateau Monton Rothschild, a vineyard that is considered to be of the highest quality and is sought-after by wine collectors.
The 1945 vintage was auctioned at Christie’s in 2012 for a total of $108,000.
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10. Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1951, $112,000
It’s shocking how much someone will spend on a bottle of wine. One of the most expensive red wines in the world is the Australia-based bottle of Penfolds Grange 1951. This bottle received a shocking price of $52,000 in 2018 at an Australia-based auction.
But in 2021, another bottle surfaced and sold for a remarkable $142,000, which is the most expensive bottle of Australian wine ever sold. Only 20 bottles of Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1951 are believed to exist, so it’s only fair that this bottle would fetch such a high price.
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9. Cheval Blanc 1947 St. Emilion, $135,125
In 2006 at Vinfolio in San Francisco, a vintage wine, one of the only two that has received a Class A Status, was sold for a record price at the time. With only 110,000 bottles produced, very few have survived to this day.
The bottle is truly a rare one and was purchased for a high price of $135,000. One of the most recent bottles that has been sold was from Sotheby’s with an estimate of $177,000.
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8. 1999 Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanee, $136,955
This French red wine is one of the most expensive red wines and one of the most celebrated wines in all of Burgundy thanks to Henri Jayer, the French vintner.
One of his most prized wines goes to his Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux which sold at Sotheby’s for an astounding $136,000. This is the perfect item to have in your wine collection, especially because it comes in multiple bottles, so you don’t have to worry about drinking one and keeping the rest.
7. 2008 Domaine Leroy Musigny, $150,000
Domaine Leroy is known for producing some of the highest quality red wine in Burgundy and is often sought after above other names.
For this 2008 vintage, a bottle is worth around $150,000 but is hard to find. As one of the most expensive red wines in the world, this is one that you’ll want in your wine cellar.
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6. Ampoule From Penfolds, $168,000
Penfolds is one of Australia’s most established winemakers and has been producing some of the highest quality, and most expensive wines in the world. In 2012, the winery produced a limited-edition crafted wine, the 2004 Kalimna Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Four master craftsmen and artists from Australia collaborated on the design and creation of the vessel, according to The Wall Street Journal, which makes the price tag of the wine $168,000.
5. Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1869, $233,972
A bottle of 1869 Chateau Lafite made history in 2010 as one of the most expensive red wines in the world. The bottle was auctioned off at Sotheby’s Asia wine department with an estimated price of $8,000 but reached a total of $233,972, an incredible amount.
Chateau Lafite Rothschild is a French wine owned by members of the Rothschild family since the 19th century. Since then, it’s been the producer of one of the most expensive red wines.
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4. Chateau Margaux 1787, $225,000
This bottle is not one that was sold at an auction, however, it still belongs as it’s one of the most expensive red wines.
Since 1989, a bottle of Chateau Margaux 1787, supposedly bearing the etched initials of Tomas Jefferson, is the record winner for being the most expensive wine bottle that has broken. A New York wine merchant received $225,000 from insurance, which is roughly $556,000 today.
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3. Romanee Conti 1937, $310,000
Romanee Conti Vineyard is based in France and has produced some of the most sought-after white and red wines. Their products are considered the world’s greatest and most expensive wines.
And in a 2018 Sotheby’s auction, three bottles of 1937 vintage sold for a staggering amount. The estimation was $40,000, a bottle sold for $310,000, exceeding expectations.
2. Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992, $500,00
The name itself is powerful and is one that many try to get their hands on. The bottle was auctioned in 2000 where it sold for a whopping $500,000, one of the most expensive red wines in the world. It’s a robust red with ripe dark fruit flavors and subtle toasty oak.
This is just one of two of the only existing bottles of the tiny winery’s first vintage. Screaming Eagle has received quite a name for itself, as the California winery produces a limited amount of varietal wine at a high price, which makes their wine considered a cult wine.
1. Romanee Conti 1945, $558,000
We saw the 1937 vintage bottle sell for an insane amount, however, it’s not the most expensive red wine in the world. The Romanee Conti 1945 vintage exceeds its predecessor.
In the same 2018 Sotheby’s auction, two rare bottles of this French wine went up for auction, with the first one having an estimation of around $32,000. However, it completely smashes its goal by being purchased at $558,000. The second bottle made just as big of an impact, selling at $496,000, despite having a “scuffed, torn, and partially missing label”.