Sotheby’s Wine Ranking | A Snapshot of Global Wine Demand

22nd January 2014
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Alyssa Howell
wine1 bg1 Sothebys Wine Ranking | A Snapshot of Global Wine DemandImage: Maestro 2300

The top ten list details the bestselling wine producers over the past year at both auction and retail as well as breaking out the top-selling wine makers according to their region. Overall, Sotheby’s sold $57.9 million of wine at auction in 2013, $19.8 million (34%) of which was in single-owner sales. The top lot of the year was the $167,508 achieved for a case of Château Latour à Pomerol 1961 at auction in London closely followed by the $165,000 Opus One Vertical sold at retail in New York.

table2 Sothebys Wine Ranking | A Snapshot of Global Wine Demand

Table: Courtesy of Sotheby's

Jamie Ritchie, CEO & President Americas and Asia Sotheby’s Wine commented: “The story of the 2013 Sotheby’s Ranking is the dominance of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Despite very limited production, strong demand led to high prices, making DRC our biggest seller globally in 2013 with sales of $7.2 million. Bordeaux was also heavily in demand making up 60% of auction sales, Champagne led retail sales, and the $165,000 Opus One Vertical was only narrowly beaten to the top of our list of highest prices.”

Bordeaux, the backbone of the auction business at 60% of sales, reduces to 42% at retail. Burgundy comes next at auction with 35% in New York, 25% in both London and Hong Kong and 18% at retail. Champagne showed the greatest strength in New York with 5% of sales at auction and 15% at retail, while California dropped to only 2% of New York auctions, although it was 12% of retail sales.

SothebysRanking Jan14 4 Sothebys Wine Ranking | A Snapshot of Global Wine Demand

Table: Courtesy of Sotheby's