View Asian edition
Menu Menu

The Drinks Business The Drinks Business

Search Search Sign in My account Sign out
User
  • Sign in
  • My account
  • Sign out
db Awards Latest issue Subscribe
  • News
    • Wine
    • Fine Wine
    • Beer
    • Spirits
    • Retail
    • Asia
    • The Big Interview
  • Global Wine Masters
    • Medal winners
  • WLC
    • Reviews
    • News
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • db Awards
    • db Green Awards
    • dbAsia Awards
  • The DB Podcast
  • Jobs
Search Close
Close Menu
  • News
    • News
    • Wine
    • Fine Wine
    • Beer
    • Spirits
    • Retail
    • Asia
    • The Big Interview
  • Global Wine Masters
    • Global Wine Masters
    • Medal winners
  • WLC
    • WLC
    • Reviews
    • News
  • Events
    • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • db Awards
    • db Green Awards
    • dbAsia Awards
  • The DB Podcast
  • Jobs
News

Sotheby’s inaugural wine and spirits in Geneva achieves US$630,844

12 June 2024 By Arabella Mileham

Sotheby’s first wine and spirits sale in Geneva achieved CHF 573,500 (US $630,844), with the top lots dominated by a 16-lot collection of bottles of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC).

The sale, which is the first time a wine and spirits sale has been held in the Swiss capital, despite offering wine sales for fifty years, first in London, then New York, Hong Kong and more recently in France, was 91% sold by lot, with  64% of the lots sold achieving prices above their high estimates. Bidders came from 14 countries, across Europe, North America, Asia and beyond, including several first-time buyers from those regions.

The sale comprised 43 lots and included many Classed Growth Bordeaux and Burgundy and magnums, which performed particularly well, Sotheby’s noted. A spokesman said that most of the wine lots, particularly the mature Bordeaux and rare Burgundy, fetched prices two to three times above their low estimates, “underscoring the strong interest of international collectors for such rare wines”. This, he continued not only highlights the “scarcity and desirability of these collectible wines and legendary vintages but also reaffirms that provenance and authentication are paramount for Sotheby’s and [its]clients, both sellers and buyers”.

The top lot was a trio of magnums of 1971 La Tâche, which more than doubled their low pre-sale estimate (CHF60,000 – 75,000) to sell for CHF 125,000 Swiss francs (£110,000), while three individual magnums of 1971 La Tâche also sold for CHF32,500, CHF27,500 and CHF18,750.

Three magnums from the 1976 vintage – which had also been purchased directly at the Domaine around 50 years ago and formed part of the 16-lot selection from the estate – were also sold for CHF16,500.

Partner Content

Why organic viticulture is more than an afterthought for Arínzano

Q&A: Jason Ginsberg and Mandy Chan

Great Southern carves its own path

Regional spotlight: Western Australia’s Margaret River

Meanwhile, six magnums of 1976 La Tâche raised CHF37,500, and a three bottle set of Chateau Haut Brion 1959 more than doubled its high pre-sale estimate to achieve CHF13,750.

The sale also offered a selection of significant whisky and Cognac, led by a bottle of Hennessy H8 Cognac ‘Arthur’s’ 40.0 abv NV, which sold for CHF37,500, as well as The Glenlivet The Winchester Collection 50 year old achieving its high pre-sale estimate of CHF15,000.

However, it appears that the two most expensive lots, from one of Royal Salute’s most limited ever bottle runs, from ‘The Art of Wonder’ pinnacle collection (which comprised only 21 bottles) remained unsold. This comprised the Royal Salute Time Chamber by Conrad Shawcross 53 Year Old 41.5 abv NV (1 BT70), which had an estimate of 100,000 – 150,000 CHF and the Royal Salute Forces of Nature by Kate MccGwire 53 Year Old 41.5 abv NV (1 BT70) which had a pre-sale estimate of 90,000 – 140,000 CHF.

 

Related news

Examining the top wine delivery services operating in the US

What does the future hold for Vinho Verde?

WHO’s wine tax push misses the real problem

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

Most read

  • Examining the top wine delivery services operating in the US

    Examining the top wine delivery services operating in the US

  • What does the future hold for Vinho Verde?

    What does the future hold for Vinho Verde?

  • #WeekInPictures: db Awards, rosé at Chelsea and rare whisky at Sotheby’s

    #WeekInPictures: db Awards, rosé at Chelsea and rare whisky at Sotheby’s

Events

  • Great Southern Masterclass & Free-Pour Tasting – Singapore

    Location - Singapore - Singapore
    Calendar May 26, 2025
  • Vinexpo Asia 2025

    Location - Singapore
    Calendar May 27, 2025 - May 29, 2025
  • Garnacha Wines & the Wines of Premières Côtes de Bordeaux Region

    Calendar June 2, 2025 - June 3, 2025
More events

Latest news

  • Jessica Biel launches Prophet & Poet wine range

    Jessica Biel launches Prophet & Poet wine range

  • WHO’s wine tax push misses the real problem

    WHO’s wine tax push misses the real problem

  • Why the world’s ‘oldest field blend’ delivers harmonious wine

    Why the world’s ‘oldest field blend’ delivers harmonious wine

Masters & Awards

  • Calendar
    deadline: April 18, 2025

    The db Awards 2025

  • Calendar
    deadline: May 25, 2025

    The Global Sangiovese Masters 2025

  • Calendar
    deadline: May 29, 2025

    The Global Organic & Vegan Wine Masters 2025

The Drinks Business The Drinks Business

  • Magazine
  • News
  • Awards
  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Meet the Team
  • News:
  • Bars
  • Beer
  • Champagne
  • Fine Wine
  • Wine
  • Spirits
  • WLC
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • About Us
  • Subscription Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Features list
  • Meet the Team

© 2025 Union Press Ltd | Wigglesworth House, Fourth Floor, 69 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 9HH, UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7803 2420
Registered in England and Wales No. 03606414

Site by Redwire

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in .

The Drinks Business
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.