What's the most expensive wine in the world?
Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, but you can call me Vinny. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the fine points of etiquette to the science of winemaking. And don't worry, I'm no wine snob—you can also ask me those "dumb questions" you're too embarrased to ask your wine geek friends! I hope you find my answers educational, empowering and even amusing. And don't forget to check out my most asked questions and my full archives for all my Q&A classics.
Dear Dr. Vinny,
What’s the most expensive wine in the world and why?
—Demetris, Cyprus, Greece
Dear Demetris,
As of today (wine auctions are constantly going on, threatening to make this old news), it’s a bottle of 1869 Château Lafite that sold for $233,973 about a year ago.
Why? Well, Lafite has a terrific reputation, and that’s a very old, very rare bottle of wine with an obviously high demand. It also helps that the wine was from Lafite’s own cellars—wines that come straight from the source are worth more than wines that have traded hands.
—Dr. Vinny
