National Wine Day 2021: 6 Most Expensive Bottles Of Wine In The World

National Wine Day is observed on May 25 each year to celebrate the alcoholic beverage that has been present in meals, gatherings and rituals around the world for centuries. And this Tuesday, what better way to honor the ancient beverage than by sharing a bottle or two with family and friends?

To celebrate National Wine Day this year, here are some of the most expensive bottles of wine ever sold, courtesy of Food and Wine, Wealthy Gorilla, CNBC and New York Wine Events.

Château Lafite-Rothschild 1896 - $233,000

In October 2010, three standard-sized bottles of Château Lafite-Rothschild 1896 sold for about $233,000 at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong. They were initially estimated to sell for up to $60,000.

Shipwrecked 1907 Heidsieck – $275,000

The 1907 Shipwrecked Heidsieck became one of the world’s most expensive bottles of champagne when it went up for auction at the Ritz Carlton in Moscow, Russia, with one bottle selling for $275,000.

Its ridiculously high price is backed by a good story. In 1916, a ship carrying the wine was torpedoed by a German submarine during the First World War, causing the ship, together with all its wine bottles, to sink to the bottom of the ocean.

After 80 years, the wreckage was discovered, and more than 2,000 bottles were retrieved. Even if you can't drink it, this shipwrecked wine is sure to spark a good conversation at dinner.

1947 Cheval Blanc – $304,375

The Chateau Cheval Blanc is one of the most well-known winemakers in the world.

Back in 2010, an imperial-size bottle of Cheval Blanc 1947 went to a wealthy private collector for $304,375 at a Christie’s auction in Geneva. However, the then-67-year-old bottle was equivalent to eight standard bottles of wine (6 liters) and thus couldn't match the record achieved by a Chateau Lafite-Rothschild vintage 1869 earlier that year.

Nevertheless, the Cheval Blanc was considered to be the "best Bordeaux ever made" and was even awarded the exclusive Premier Grand Cru Classe (A) rank in the Classification of Saint-Emilion wine in 2012.

1945 Mouton-Rothschild – $310,000

The previous record for the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold was held by a three-liter (known as “large format”) bottle of 1945 Mouton-Rothschild that sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York in 2007 for $310,000.

Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 – $500,000

One of the most expensive bottles of wine ever sold isn't that old, debunking the rule that the older wine is, the better. A then-24-year-old, six-liter Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 bottle sold for half a million in 2000 at a Napa Valley charity auction.

The reason the wine is considered so special is that it was only available for a limited time back in 1995. According to the Wealthy Gorilla, the wine is aged in 60% new oak and is packed with an aroma of blackcurrants, subtle traces of oak and is characterized with an opaque purple hue.

1945 Romanee-Conti – $558,000

A bottle of 1945 Romanee-Conti sold for a staggering $558,000 at a Sotheby’s auction in 2018. Auctioneers had originally estimated the 73-year-old bottle of French Burgundy to sell for $32,000.

Shockingly, another bottle of the same wine and vintage went for $496,000 just moments after the first one had been sold.

Romanee-Conti, widely considered as the best Burgundy wine, only produced 600 bottles in 1945. This was the last year before the producer pulled up its older, prized vines and replaced them with younger vines in 1947.