Sotheby’s reveals plans for wine shop and lounge in Hong Kong

Sotheby’s has revealed plans for a dedicated wine shop and lounge in its bricks-and-mortar space in Hong Kong, which hosted its first live wine auctions in late March. Rebecca Lo reports.

George Lacey, director and head of wine, Asia at Sotheby’s, has led countless sales prior to The Connoisseur’s Cellar at Sotheby’s Maison in Hong Kong’s Landmark Chater on 30-31 March. Yet even he, a seasoned auctioneer, recognised the sense of occasion at the first live wine auction in the flagship premises.

Lacey feels the so-called “grotto” on the ground floor is perfect for exhibiting fine wine, art and collectibles. For the March auction, it was transformed into a venue that combined the latest technology with round tables for convivial tastings to enhance bids. Sales yielded above projected estimates. The top lot, 12 bottles of Richebourg 2007 Domaine Leroy Côte de Nuits Grand Cru, fetched HK$625,000 (£59,400), beating its low estimate of HK$600,000.

“This extraordinary single-owner auction marked our first live auction in Sotheby’s Hong Kong Maison’s atmospheric, flagship gallery space – a testament to the importance and positioning of this superlative cellar,” Lacey said.

The 24,000 square foot Maison opened in July 2024 within designer clothing brand Armani’s former flagship stores. It acts as the public face for the auction house while its new headquarters are sited in the recently completed Six Pacific Place in Wanchai. As a major pedestrian thoroughfare linking grade A office buildings in Hong Kong’s financial district, the Maison captures passersby that normally may be intimidated by auction houses.

And it is working. “Clients new to Sotheby’s enter via our Maison,” affirmed Lacey. “They may purchase a painting there. Then they follow up by buying another through auction. Our salons dedicated to luxury consumer goods such as watches, jewellery, fine art and collectibles lower the barrier. Retail spaces are easy for most people to understand. Since we opened, we’ve welcomed half a million visitors.”

The last piece of the Maison puzzle is a swish fine wine and spirits retail store slated to open later this year. It will include a tasting lounge for the Central community to enjoy a glass after work or in between retail therapy bouts. Designed by MVDRV and sited in the first floor zone previously occupied by Emporio Armani, it promises a contemporary chic ambience aligned with Sotheby’s cache.

“We never had a permanent wine appreciation space; just the occasional pop-up event at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre,” noted Lacey. “I see it as the glue to cement our day-to-evening concept and a test bed for our initiatives. We plan to host tastings and masterclasses in the intimate setting. It will be perfect for a younger market to get to know us.”

Lacey posits that a noticeable shift to younger buyers can also be attributed to the Maison. “32% of our bidders in Hong Kong are under the age of 40,” he said. “The power of retail as an entry point is an enormous growth area for us as younger generations tend to participate in luxury categories first.”

Sotheby’s is planning to roll out its Hong Kong Maison concept internationally through new premises in the brutalist Breuer Building on Madison Avenue in New York City and on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. With two auctions already under his belt, Lacey is gearing up for up to five live and 14 online wine auctions annually.

“We are so fortunate to have such an engaged client base,” he said. “They are high level people that love wine, art, jewellery — and they may be the same person. We want to make sure we are effective in servicing them across all their interests.”

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