Expensive champagne has been synonymous with the drink of high class society. It is seen being enjoyed by A-list celebrities, it is saved and served for special occasions, and in general it has been used as a sort of high-status symbol.
While champagne bottles can come in all forms, sizes, and price tags, few will ever reach the heights of these 10 most expensive champagnes in the world:
- 10. Shipwrecked Champagne – $14,181.81 per bottle
- 9. Louis Roederer, Cristal Brut 1990 Millennium Cuvee Methuselah – $18,800
- 8. 1928 Krug – $21,200
- 7. 1841 Veuve Clicquot – $34,000
- 6. 1959 Dom Perignon – $42,350 per bottle
- 5. 1820 Juglar Cuvee – $43,500
- 4. 1996 Dom Perignon Rose Gold Methuselah – $49,000
- 3. 2011 Armand de Brignac 15-Liter – $90,000
- 2. 2013 Armand de Brignac Rose 30-Liter Midas – $275,000
- 1. 2013 Taste of Diamonds – $2.07 million
10. Shipwrecked Champagne – $14,181.81 per bottle
Starting off the list of most expensive champagnes in the world we have an unnamed bottle found in 2010 at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The case of 11 bottles was sold at auction for $156,000 in 2012, breaking down to about $14,182 per bottle. Thought to have been under water for more approximately 200 years, the contents seem to have been preserved quite well. Nevertheless, a bottle with such a story is more likely to be celebrated as a display item rather than something that will be brought to a special occasion.
9. Louis Roederer, Cristal Brut 1990 Millennium Cuvee Methuselah – $18,800
No.9 on our list of most expensive champagne bottles is just one of 2,000. The massive Louis Roederer, Cristal Brut 1990 Millennium Cuvee Methuselah is the size of eight normal sized bottles. Considering the size and rarity of this bottle the $18,800 price tag can actually be considered to be a bargain.
8. 1928 Krug – $21,200
The first record holder on our list of most expensive champagne is the 1928 Krug. In 2009 during the Acker Merrall & Condit’s sale in Hong Kong., the bottle fetched $21,200, setting a new record for most expensive champagne sold at auction. It is said that the 1928 Krug has been exceptionally aged, and is thought to have a developed notes of apricot and honey. A truly incredible piece.
7. 1841 Veuve Clicquot – $34,000
The seventh most expensive champagne is the world was yet again found in a shipwreck. This1841 Veuve Clicquot was just one of 168 bottles that was found at the bottom of the Baltic Sea near Finland’s Åaland archipelago in 2010. For almost 2 centuries, these bottles rested at 160 feet below the surface, in conditions ideal for aging. The Veuve Clicquot brand is highly sought after today, and to find a well preserved bottle from 1841 is rare indeed. A champagne bottle well-deserving of its $34,000 price tag.
6. 1959 Dom Perignon – $42,350 per bottle
Don Perignon is now synonymous with quality and pretty high price tags…but what happens when you couple the Don Perignon brand with age and rarity? You get one of the most expensive champagne bottles ever sold. In 2008, a lot of two bottles of 1959 Dom Perignon champagne fetched an astounding $84,700 ($42,350 each.) Over a decade has passed since then, if these bottles have not been consumed, they might resurface one day and probably will have a much steeper price tag.
5. 1820 Juglar Cuvee – $43,500
Not one, not two, but three bottles on our list of most expensive champagne were found in a shipwreck at the bottom of the Baltic Sea. This 1820 Juglar Cuvee not only holds an interesting story, it is also incredibly rare. The House of Juglar actually ceased to exist in the 1840s, so this bottle is indeed a historic piece. Despite being at the bottom of the ocean for over two centuries, the bottle, although roughed up a bit was still sealed, and the contents seemed to be safe. The bottle was ultimately auctioned off for a massive $43,500.
4. 1996 Dom Perignon Rose Gold Methuselah – $49,000
A perfect balance of taste and aesthetics, this 1996 Dom Perignon Rose Gold Methuselah is well-deserving of its $49,000 price tag. The massive 16-liter bottle, plated with real gold is only one of 35 ever made. Its impressive appearance is not the only show stopper though. The champagne itself has an incredible taste, combining sharp notes with a smoky aroma. A truly great bottle well-deserving of its spot on our list.
3. 2011 Armand de Brignac 15-Liter – $90,000
The next two items on our list of most expensive champagne are not vintage but have “clout” and sheer size on their side. The Armand de Brignac brand (or Ace of Spades,) is owned by pop-culture icon, business owner, and rapper Jay Z. While this alone would drive the price up, this isn’t the reason behind the massive $90,000 price-tag. The bottle is a massive 15-liters and is quite aesthetically pleasing, perfect for a high-end event with hundreds of guests.
2. 2013 Armand de Brignac Rose 30-Liter Midas – $275,000
If you thought the 15-liter 2011 Armand de Brignac or 1996 Dom Perignon Rose Gold Methuselah were big, the 2013 Armand de Brignac Rose 30-Liter Midas dwarfs them. Jay Z has been constantly pushing for larger and larger sizes, and the Midas is the biggest, most expensive bottle yet. Weighing it at 100lbs, the 30-liter bottle not only towers over the other two on our list in terms of size, at $275,000 its price tag is also massive.
1. 2013 Taste of Diamonds – $2.07 million
The gap between no.2 and no.1 on our list of most expensive champagnes is astronomical. The 2013 Taste of Diamonds, also known as Gout de Diamants, can be bought at a jaw-dropping $2.07 million. What sets this champagne apart from all others on the list is not its size, if contents, or its history; it’s the bottle. The diamond shaped label is made out of white gold accompanied by a massive Swarovski crystal in its center. The mastermind behind the design was none other than Shammi Shinh, owner of London-based luxury Prodiguer Brands.
For more reading on colored diamonds, see the links below:
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