The 25 Most Expensive Wines in the World in 2024

The most expensive wine varieties in the world include sauvignon blanc, merlot, riesling and pinot noir, from countries and regions such as Spain, Portugal, Germany, France and the Napa Valley. What classifies a bottle under the most expensive wines? History, cultural connections and bottling techniques are a few things that can up the ante on a bottle of wine.

Are you a serious wine connoisseur looking to make your next grand purchase? From vintage varieties to modern blends and even the most expensive bottle of wine in the world, we’ve curated a list of the most expensive wines to tempt your palate.

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• What Is the Most Expensive Wine in the World?
• The Most Expensive White Wines in the World
• The Most Expensive Red Wines in the World

What Is the Most Expensive Wine in the World?

The most expensive bottle of wine in the world is the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1945, sold at auction for $558,000. From Romanée Conti, France, this exclusive bottle of Pinot Noir was sold at auction by Sotheby’s in 2018.

Two bottles from Robert Drouhin’s personal wine cellar were part of the auction. They were the only two left out of a production of 600 bottles in 1945, the last ever produced by the vineyards. A New York wine collector purchased both bottles.

Just how much is the most expensive wine worth? The first bottle sold for a staggering $558,000, making it the most expensive wine in the world. The second bottle sold for $496,000.

The Most Expensive White Wines in the World

1. Leroy Domaine d’Auvenay Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru    

This expensive French wine is a chardonnay from the Domaine d’Auvenay Winery in the Côte de Nuits region in Burgundy, France. Owner, Madame Lalou Bize Leroy, who owns Domaine Leroy and Domaine d’Auvenay, uses a small-batch approach, organic biodynamic farming practices and a lengthy fermentation process for winemaking, which makes this an elusive type of wine. A bottle of this goes for $20,250, putting it right up there with the most expensive wines worldwide. 

2. Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese

Produced in Mosel, Germany, this bottle amongst the most expensive wines features an intense and fruity flavor combination of raisins, berries, figs and honey, with the added nuances of coffee and chocolate.

One of Germany’s most renowned winemakers, Egon Muller infuses its wines with tradition and a deep family heritage dating back to 1797. Some of the grapevines were planted in the 19th century, infusing this with vintage quality and adding to its value as one of the most expensive wines.

3. Château Cheval Blanc 1947

Another expensive French wine, the Château Cheval Blanc 1947 is valued at $304,375 and has 15% alcohol. Aged in pre-WWII oak barrels, what makes this one of the most expensive wines is its thick texture and robust flavors of coffee, spices, leather and chocolate. It will certainly make a statement as a wine gift for a loved one.

4. Domaine d’Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet 2007

Another exquisite and expensive French wine from the esteemed vineyards of Domaine d’Auvenay, the Chevalier-Montrachet 2007 has a price tag of $240,412. This white Burgundy wine is a Grand Cru.

“Cru” refers to high-quality vineyards that have just the right combination of excellent soil, climate and altitude to produce superior grape varieties. Grand Cru is the most revered, while Premier Cru is the next level down. The flavor is described as buttery and complex.

5. Château d’Yquem 1847

Valued at $71,675, the Château d’Yquem is a sweet and fruity wine from the Bordeaux region of France. When sold, it was on record as the most expensive wine ever sold in the non-red category. The château was established in 1593 and the vineyards are classified as Premier Cru Superieur, which means they are first-growth grapes from the Bordeaux region.

Thomas Jefferson is said to have visited the vineyard while serving as a representative of the United States, deeming the wine “the best in France.” He ordered 250 bottles of the 1784 for himself and a few for George Washington. The flavor of this 1847 expensive French wine is described as sweet with high acidity.

6 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese

Considered the best of the Scharzhof wines in Mosel, Germany, this riesling is revered by collectors for its lush taste. It sells for $44,727. In the Muller family since 1797, the vineyards are among the best in Germany for riesling wine. With 6% alcohol and flavors of raisins, coffee, chocolate, dried botrytized berries, figs and honey, it is a delightful choice amongst the most expensive wines.

7. Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru

Another superb choice amongst the most expensive wines, this bottle has a sharp and intense flavor with fruit and spice notes. It’s hailed by critics who have named it one of the top five Montrachet wines. Montrachet wines are grown in Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte de Beaune region and aged in oak barrels. It sells for $19,015.

8. Leroy Domaine d’Auvenay Puligny-Montrachet Les Enseigneres

Another superior Montrachet wine, this buttery and complex bottle that ranks among the world's most expensive wines sells for $8,520. Grown and produced in France’s Côte de Beaune region, its flavors include elegant hints of apricot, almond, honeysuckle and brioche — a no-brainer to add to your collection of most expensive wines.

9. Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

Famous for its chardonnay wine, the Coche-Dury Winery is located in the Côte de Beaune region of Burgundy, France. Renowned winemaker Jean Francois Coche-Dury has become known as the King of Meursault for his impeccable blends. The Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru features strong and silky flavors of lemon, vanilla and citrus. At $6,679, it is ranked among the most expensive wines in the world.

The Most Expensive Red Wines in the World

10. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1945

Listed above as the most expensive wine in the world, this variety is valued at $558,000. A pinot noir from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, France, it features smooth and dry flavors of raspberry, cherry and plum blended with earthy tones of leather and mushroom. 

11. Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992

This entry to the list of the world's most expensive wine hails from a small vineyard in California’s Napa Valley. Established by Jean Phillips in 1986, the first vintage, the Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, was produced in 1992. It’s the rarest vintage and sold for $500,000 at a charity auction in 2000. Sage, truffle, oak and vanilla notes flavor this luxurious wine.

12. Château Cheval-Blanc 1947

This cabernet Franc and merlot blend was sold at auction at Christie’s in 2010 for $304,375, easily earning its place on this list of most expensive wines. Rich and luscious with a ruby-red color, it has a high content of alcohol, almost 15%. It has flavors that include hints of plum, cocoa and red fruits.

13. Jeroboam of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945

Produced in Nathaniel Rothschild’s vineyards, this bottle on the list of most expensive wines is from a first-growth Bordeaux estate in France. The Jeroboam is made from a blend of cabernet Franc, cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot and merlot grapes.

Critics consider this luxurious blend to be one of the best wines of the past 100 years. The flavor profile includes blackberries, cedar, oak and vanilla. A bottle sold at auction in London for $310,700, easily making it one of the most expensive wines worldwide.

14. Château Mouton-Rothschild 1945

Consigned from the personal cellar of Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, the owner of Mouton, a bottle of this wine sold for $310,700 at a Sotheby’s auction in 2007. This vintage was one of the first to use artists to create the labels — a stand-out feature, even among the most expensive wines.

The elegant "V" on the label represents the allied victory in the Second World War. An unknown French artist created it, but subsequent artists have included Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Kandinsky, Andy Warhol and Joan Miro — all of whom have helped to place this bottle high up on the list of most expensive wines.

15. Château Lafite 1869

Sold at Sotheby’s in 2010 in Hong Kong, this entrant to the list of most expensive wines is from the collection of Bordeaux’s Château Lafite Rothschild. It sold for $230,000 and held the record for the most expensive wine ever sold for nearly 10 years. The flavor of this red wine is described as elegant and graceful with earthy flavors of cedar, black fruit and chestnut.

16. Château Margaux 1787

Located on the left bank of Bordeaux, the Château Margaux Winery is over four centuries old. This expensive French wine delivers an elite and exceptional flavor that appealed to President Thomas Jefferson, who called it the best Bordeaux he had ever tasted.

This bottle, from his collection, originally sold for $500,000 to a wine merchant. Sadly, yet iconically, that bottle was knocked over at dinner. The broken bottle gathered $225,000 in insurance claims.

17. Château Lafite Rothschild 1787

This Bordeaux wine was found in a cellar in Paris. Since the shelf life is around 50 years, it was considered undrinkable. What made this wine such a unique find and therefore added to its value as one of the most expensive wines was the initials carved into it.

The letters “Th J” are believed to be that of President Thomas Jefferson (he didn’t have a middle name, which probably explains the lowercase h). The bottle was purchased as Jefferson memorabilia for $156,450 and is part of the Forbes Collection in New York.

18. Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1999

This robust pinot noir from the Côte de Nuits wine region of Burgundy, France, sells for $136,955, making it one of the most expensive wines in the world from France. It is smooth and complex with flavors of fruit and oak, all of which you'll discover when learning how to taste wine.

19. Block-42 Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Presentation is a key component when it comes to this Block-42 Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 from Penfolds Wines in Adelaide, Australia. A unique feature is its non-traditional bottle; it’s enclosed in a hand-blown glass ampoule, like a vial, that’s kept inside a wooden cabinet.

Only specially trained winemakers can break off the end to open it. There were 12 of this variety made; 11 of them retail at $168,00. The 12th ampoule is in Australia’s Penfolds Museum — one of the most expensive wines on display. It offers flavors of strawberry, chocolate and spices.

20. Leroy Musigny Grand Cru

With a Grand Cru classification, it’s not surprising that this is one of the most expensive wines in the world. Winemaker Francois Leroy founded the Domaine Leroy Vineyard in 1868. The Leroy Musigny Grand Cru, a pinot noir, is from the Côte de Nuit region in Burgundy, France, and sells for $51,735.

21. Massandra Sherry de la Frontera 1775

The Massandra Winery in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, is considered a treasure trove of wines. With close-guarded winemaking processes and more than a million varieties on its resume, it has a sample of every bottle ever produced.

The Sherry de la Frontera 1775 is considered one of Europe’s oldest wines and features walnut, raisin and roasted almond flavor profiles. This bottle sold for a grand total of $43,500 at a 2001 Sotheby’s auction in London, making it one of the most expensive wines.

22. Henri Jayer Echezeaux Grand Cru

From Côte de Nuit, France, this expensive French wine will set you back $9,707. The Echezeaux vineyards are classified as Grand Cru, explaining this pinot noir’s esteemed value and exceptionally high standards.

Favored by critics, it’s the fourth most highly rated wine from the Echezeaux wine family. It has an elegant and savory flavor that pairs well with some of the most expensive foods in the world, such as duck and goose.

23. Ramos Pinto Vinces Very Old Tawny Port

Founded by Adriano Ramos Pinto in Portugal in 1880, this bottle amongst the most expensive wines comes in at $9,626. Tawny Port means that it’s not vintage; it’s blended from several vintages. The grapes used are not as concentrated as some wine grapes, which makes them an excellent choice for blending. This dessert wine has a rich and warm flavor profile with hints of chocolate, spice and prune.

24. Ghost Horse Vineyard ‘Premonition’ Cabernet Sauvignon

Acclaimed Napa Valley winemaker Todd Anderson has created handcrafted small-batch blends for more than three decades. This bold red wine sells for $6,000 and features fruit, oak, lavender and leather flavors.

25. Leroy Les Beaux Monts, Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru

A savory and classic red wine, this pinot noir is grown in the Vosne-Romanée region of France. The Premier Cru classification helps solidify it as an exclusive variety that sells for $5,717. It’s described as having a satiny texture and flavors of berries, spices and sandalwood.

Whether fruity, earthy or sweet, the most expensive wines in the world offer a rich background and cultural significance. If you're interested, but not yet not well-educated, consider booking a wine-tasing class where you’ll learn how to swirl and sip a variety of wines, exploring their history, production methods and bottling techniques.

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