The world of fine wine is not just about taste and tradition. It is also a global luxury market where rare bottles can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Collectors, investors, and wine lovers closely follow the most expensive wines because these bottles represent history, craftsmanship, and scarcity. Prices are driven by vintage quality, reputation of the winery, limited production, and strong demand from elite auctions. As wine investment continues to grow worldwide, tracking the most expensive wines helps readers understand how prestige, rarity, and global demand shape the high-end wine market.
Fine wines often behave like luxury assets, similar to rare watches or classic art. Some bottles are more than 70 or even 100 years old, making them extremely valuable and difficult to replace. Regions such as Burgundy and Bordeaux dominate the top end of the market, especially producers like Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Domaine Leroy. These wines are produced in very small quantities, stored carefully, and traded among collectors who view them as long-term investments. Auction results and private sales regularly reset price records, showing how strong the demand remains across international markets.
Top 10 Most Expensive Wines in the World 2026
- Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti 1945: 558,000 USD
- Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti 1937: 420,000 USD
- Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru 1999: 380,000 USD
- Domaine Leroy Chambertin Grand Cru 1990: 310,000 USD
- Château Mouton Rothschild Jeroboam 1945: 310,000 USD
- Château Cheval Blanc 1947: 304,375 USD
- Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru 1990: 240,000 USD
- Château Lafite Rothschild 1869: 230,000 USD
- Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti 1962: 215,000 USD
- Penfolds Ampoule 2004: 168,000 USD
The top 10 list shows clear dominance by Burgundy producers, especially Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Domaine Leroy, which together account for most of the highest prices. The 1945 Romanée-Conti stands far above the rest, reflecting its extreme rarity and historical importance after wartime production limits. Several wines cross the 300,000 USD level, showing how collectors compete aggressively for elite vintages. Older Bordeaux wines such as Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Cheval Blanc still maintain strong value, while modern luxury concepts like the Penfolds Ampoule demonstrate that innovative packaging and branding can also command premium prices in the global wine market.
Full Data Table
| # | Wine | Vintage | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti | 1,945 | 558,000 |
| 2 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti | 1,937 | 420,000 |
| 3 | Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru | 1,999 | 380,000 |
| 4 | Domaine Leroy Chambertin Grand Cru | 1,990 | 310,000 |
| 5 | Château Mouton Rothschild Jeroboam | 1,945 | 310,000 |
| 6 | Château Cheval Blanc | 1,947 | 304,375 |
| 7 | Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru | 1,990 | 240,000 |
| 8 | Château Lafite Rothschild | 1,869 | 230,000 |
| 9 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti | 1,962 | 215,000 |
| 10 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche | 1,945 | 195,000 |
| 11 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche | 1,990 | 190,000 |
| 12 | Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru | 2,000 | 185,000 |
| 13 | Domaine Leroy Chambertin Grand Cru | 1,996 | 180,000 |
| 14 | Château Margaux | 1,787 | 175,000 |
| 15 | Penfolds Ampoule | 2,004 | 168,000 |
| 16 | Château Lafite Rothschild | 1,787 | 160,000 |
| 17 | Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon | 1,992 | 150,000 |
| 18 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet | 2,008 | 145,000 |
| 19 | Penfolds Grange Hermitage | 1,951 | 142,000 |
| 20 | Château d’Yquem | 1,811 | 135,000 |
| 21 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet | 2,015 | 132,000 |
| 22 | Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru | 1,996 | 128,000 |
| 23 | Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru | 1,999 | 125,000 |
| 24 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche | 1,985 | 120,000 |
| 25 | Château Margaux | 1,900 | 118,000 |
| 26 | Château Lafite Rothschild | 1,900 | 115,000 |
| 27 | Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon | 2,010 | 112,000 |
| 28 | Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru | 1,990 | 110,000 |
| 29 | Château Mouton Rothschild | 1,945 | 108,000 |
| 30 | Château Haut-Brion | 1,929 | 105,000 |
| 31 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti | 1,990 | 102,000 |
| 32 | Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru | 1,995 | 98,000 |
| 33 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche | 1,971 | 95,000 |
| 34 | Château Lafite Rothschild | 1,899 | 92,000 |
| 35 | Château Margaux | 1,893 | 90,000 |
| 36 | Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru | 1,993 | 88,000 |
| 37 | Domaine Leroy Chambertin Grand Cru | 1,995 | 86,000 |
| 38 | Château Mouton Rothschild | 1,921 | 84,000 |
| 39 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet | 2,010 | 82,000 |
| 40 | Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon | 1,997 | 80,000 |
| 41 | Château Lafite Rothschild | 1,945 | 78,000 |
| 42 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg | 1,999 | 76,000 |
| 43 | Domaine Leroy Clos de la Roche Grand Cru | 1,996 | 74,000 |
| 44 | Château Margaux | 1,961 | 72,000 |
| 45 | Château Haut-Brion | 1,961 | 70,000 |
| 46 | Domaine Armand Rousseau Clos de Bèze Grand Cru | 1,990 | 68,000 |
| 47 | Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands Échézeaux | 1,990 | 66,000 |
| 48 | Penfolds Grange | 1,953 | 64,000 |
| 49 | Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon | 2,007 | 62,000 |
| 50 | Château Latour | 1,961 | 60,000 |
Key Points
- Burgundy wines dominate the top of the price rankings, reflecting limited vineyard size and consistent collector demand.
- Domaine de la Romanée-Conti appears multiple times in the top 10 and throughout the full list, confirming its unmatched prestige.
- Very old vintages from the 1800s still maintain extremely high value due to historical rarity and limited surviving bottles.
- Prices decline gradually from the top rank to rank 50, showing a strong premium for the rarest few bottles.
- Both European classics and selected New World wines appear in the rankings, highlighting global demand diversity.
- Grand Cru classifications consistently outperform standard labels in auction pricing.
- Vintage quality plays a major role, with exceptional harvest years commanding much higher prices.
- Investment interest continues to push prices higher for wines with proven resale performance.
The global market for the most expensive wines continues to expand as collectors seek rare assets that combine cultural heritage with long-term value. Burgundy remains the clear leader, but premium Bordeaux and select international producers still attract strong bidding. As storage technology, auction platforms, and global logistics improve, more buyers gain access to elite bottles, increasing competition and transparency. In the coming years, limited production, climate impacts on harvests, and rising luxury consumption are likely to keep pushing record prices even higher. For investors and enthusiasts alike, the world’s most expensive wines remain a powerful symbol of craftsmanship, scarcity, and timeless appeal.
Related Articles
- Most Expensive Foods in the World
- Most Expensive Spices
- Most Expensive Restaurants (per meal)
- Most Expensive Whiskeys