3rd April, 2024
What is the most expensive wine in the world? And the most expensive wine in Spain?
Trying the most expensive wines in the world is an opportunity available to very few. Their price makes them an inaccessible drink for the vast majority. Whether due to their characteristics or the limited quantity produced, they come with high price tags, though this doesn’t stop us from appreciating truly unique products.
The most expensive wine in the world in 2024
The price of the most expensive wine on earth, auctioned in 2018, was 558,000 dollars, an amount that has not yet been exceeded and, as such, has made this the most expensive wine in history. If you’re wondering what makes it so expensive, there are a few very good reasons. First of all, this is a bottle of Romanée-Conti from the 1945 vintage, the year World War II ended.
In this year, the prestigious Domaine de la Romanée-Conti winery had to reduce its production from between 5,000 and 6,000 to just 600 bottles. Ultimately, the war and the situation in France prevented business from continuing as normal. But the particular features of the most expensive red wine in the world don’t stop there, as its vines were also replanted, adding another unique aspect to this wine.
Along with the above, the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti was and still is one of the most prestigious wineries in France, as well as one of the best respected and renowned by experts. Added to this is the fact that only two bottles remain of a vintage that was developed under such peculiar circumstances. Finally, despite the fact that the starting bid was set at 32,000 dollars, the interest generated was enough to trigger an intense bidding war and make it the most expensive French wine in history.
If your interest has been piqued, the wine that previously held the record for the most expensive of the world is also linked to history. This was an 1869 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, sold for 333,000 dollars in 2010. After more than a century, it managed to capture the attention of buyers, due to the bottle’s practically mint condition. Despite the time that had passed, its content remained in good condition, something which contributed to its increasing value. Without a doubt, this was a product well worth the splurge, even if it was only within the reach of a few collectors.
What is the best wine in the world?
Establishing the best wine in the world is not a simple task either. Everyone has their own tastes, which makes it difficult to come to an agreement. However, experts’ opinions are often highly regarded, especially when they have solid and recognized judgement. This is precisely what cemented the decision of American critic James Suckling.
After tasting over 4,000 wines from around the globe, he came to the conclusion that the greatest wine in the world came from Spain. This expert’s opinion appeared in the prestigious Wine Spectator publication in 2023. For him, the Castillo Ygay is the ultimate wine. This winning wine, from the Marqués de Murrieta winery (which belongs to the D.O. Rioja) was awarded a score of 100, the highest possible score.
More specifically, the wine granted this very prestigious distinction was produced in the 2012 vintage, although this wasn’t the first time. Castillo Ygay has achieved the full 100 points from different experts on up to 15 occasions. For example, the critic Robert Parker assigned the maximum score to a Castillo Ygay 1986 white wine made by the Marqués de Murrieta winery, with a price of €1,167. Even so, this doesn’t make it the most expensive white wine in the world. If we want to find the world’s most expensive wine, we’ll have to look to Germany and the Egon Müller winery. Their white wines, made with the Riesling grape variety and rigorously worked and selected, take home the title for the most expensive white wines in the world with a production of just a few hundred bottles. A bottle of Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Beerenauslese 2015 is a great reserve which reached a price of €29,050, unquestionably making it the most expensive white wine in the world.
How much does the most expensive Spanish wine cost?
The most expensive Spanish wine is sure to surprise you with its unique features. This wine is produced in the Aurum Red wineries, under Hilario García, who has added a new twist to the production process. One of the changes introduced is the use of ozone to treat the water or the vines themselves. This, and 100 other treatments, ensures that the final product does not turn to vinegar once opened, at least according to this winemaker.
Another of the key aspects that make Aurum Red wines the most expensive in Spain is its range. The winery offers five series, each with their own particularities, although they all share a limited number of bottles. For example, only 6,000 Silver Series wines are produced per year, as the production process takes at least a decade.
However, no series could stand up to the Gold Series, whose characteristics are truly unique. This is a wine made from indigenous Tempranillo grapes, the fruit of hundred-year-old grape strains. At the end of the production process, which takes many years of aging, a maximum of 300 bottles are obtained per year. From these, only 150 are sold, at a price of €1,250.
Though other Spanish wines exceed this price, such as those produced by Domino de Pingus, Aurum Red also launched a unique edition on the market, valued at €340,000, making it the most expensive wine in Spain in price per unit (though not by price/liter). The reason for its high cost is very simple: this is a 16-liter bottle, equivalent to 20 bottles of the Gold Series. This bottle was created for a charity auction and the proceeds were donated to the Anidan NGO, operating in Lamu, Kenya.
What’s more, the wine produced at Aurum Red has significant organoleptic qualities. Its aroma changes depending on which way you turn the glass. If you turn it to the right, you’ll pick up hints of fig bread, ripe dried fruits or spices. To the left, subtle and elegant notes with less alcohol power appear. When it comes to taste, it has a range that varies from freshness to an accentuated astringency that you can feel on your tongue.
As you’ve seen, the most expensive wine in the world has an interesting story, just like the other most expensive wines in history. But what they all share is the passion for creating a sophisticated and highest-quality product. Enjoying a great experience with a unique wine doesn’t have to cost the earth: for example, our Viña Pomal Gran Reserva 2015 is a magnificent great reserve red wine full of deep and complex aromas and flavors of red berries, drawing touches of vanilla from the wood. If you’re looking for the highest-quality great reserve, we recommend the Titiana de Can Matons Chardonnay 2013, a terroir sparkling wine that brings out the very best of the vines, claiming its origins in Alella. To find the most outstanding wines, the 15 Bodegas online wine store offers a wide catalogue, including the leading wine and cava brands in both Spain and abroad. Discover what we have to offer!