18/04/2024
Often in the spotlight for finance, banking and conspiracy theories, the Rothschild family own and run one of the most successful and well-renowned wine estates in France’s Médoc region. Often the subject to wine investments, here are five things you may not have known about Château Mouton Rothschild.
Sotheby’s wine and spirits auctions soared to new heights in 2023, marking the third consecutive year of record-breaking success, the renowned auction house revealed. Notably, the total sales reached an impressive US$159 million, reflecting a 17% surge in lots offered year-on-year. The expansion continued globally, with auctions held in six countries, including inaugural events in Shanghai and Singapore. Drawing bidders from a staggering 53 countries, Sotheby’s witnessed remarkable participation and engagement from diverse regions worldwide.
For the first time, single-owner sales exceeded $100 million, as highlighted in Sotheby’s annual report. Notable sales included The Epicurean’s Atlas: The Encyclopaedic Cellar in Hong Kong ($16.8 million), A Monumental Cellar in New York ($9.3 million), Kodawari: The Greatest Japanese Whisky Collection in London ($2.2 million), and Iconic Wines from a Prestigious French Cellar in France ($2.5 million).
Nick Pegna, Sotheby’s global head of wine & spirits, emphasized, “We achieved the value of one extraordinary week’s worth of wine & spirits sales in 2023 equivalent to the entire year of 2013.”
This remarkable week occurred in November, with $50 million raised from auctions held in three different regions. The highlight was the sale of the Macallan 1926 featuring the Valerio Adami label, fetching $2.7 million—a new record for the highest-priced bottle of spirit or wine ever sold at auction, significantly surpassing Sotheby’s previous record of $1.9 million set in 2019.
Upon delving into the data, intriguing trends emerged. Notably, buyers from the US dominated the auction scene, constituting the strongest bidders, with the Americas contributing 25% of successful bidders. The US particularly stood out, securing the lion’s share with a whopping $26 million. Additionally, there was a noticeable surge in participation from Mexico and Brazil, contributing $6 million collectively.
Meanwhile, Asia retained its position as the leading market for auctions, commanding 42% of the market buyers. Hong Kong led the pack, contributing $22 million to the total. In Europe, participation remained steady, with France ($23 million), Denmark ($6 million), and the UK ($5 million) taking the lead. However, the rest of Europe segment witnessed a doubling of its expenditure in 2023.
The breakdown of statistics revealed a diversification in the types of lots offered and sold. Traditionally dominant categories like Burgundy, Bordeaux, and spirits accounted for just over 70% of lots offered in 2023, a decline from the historical average of 87%. Notably, Bordeaux’s representation decreased from 60% to 16% over the past decade, while Burgundy’s share rose from 26% to 34%. Spirits, on the other hand, experienced a remarkable surge from $4 million in 2017 to $33 million in 2023, constituting 21% of the market.
There was also a heightened demand for wines from Champagne, Rhône, and California. The top ten producers included Hospices de Beaune, leading for the second consecutive year with sales of US$25 million, followed by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti with a 40% increase in sales to $21 million. Petrus emerged as the most sought-after Bordeaux, witnessing a 50% surge in sales to $6 million, outpacing Burgundy’s Domaine Armand Rousseau ($5 million) to claim the fourth spot.
A notable new entrant was Champagne producer Maison Krug, the first Champagne producer to enter the top ten. Maison Krug accounted for 38% of Champagne sales, indicative of the rising demand for wines from the region. In retail terms, Bordeaux wines retained the top spot, comprising 37% of sales, followed by Burgundy (25%), Champagne (13%), Italy (7%), the US (6%), and Spirits (1%).
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08 Dec 2025
