The Top 10 Most Expensive Wines In The World

Are you a big wine fan? A good wine can set the bar for your dinner party, or even be a valuable addition to your wine collection. Either way, there are a few things that make up a great wine that cheaper wines simply don’t have. And in some cases, it may be worth spending extra cash to get the best.

So… How much are we looking at spending here?

Well, a good average wine will cost you $33. But an amazing wine can cost you up to $200,000.

Shocked? Let’s find out why good wines have such high price tags.

Why are some wines so expensive?

Wines are usually expensive for 3 reasons:

First off, some wines cost more to make. The raw materials can vary in cost – consider a high-quality grape over an unknown kind of grape. There’s also the place where the grape is bought to consider as grapes cost more in some parts of the world. The type of tank it’s being fermented in also matters. Eg. the wine fermented in a stainless steel tank doesn’t cost as much as the wine fermented in brand new oak barrels (which cost between $600-$2,400 depending on the type of oak).

Secondly, “the older the better.” While this is mostly true for red wine, the longer the wine ages, the better it will taste. Time changes the way the fruit tastes, reduces acidity, and tannins. Over the years, the wine becomes rounder and smoother. You can generally expect to pay $1 for every extra year of aging the wine has.

Lastly, expensive wines are expensive because they can be. This is known as the “perceived value.” If the brand has already gained a reputation for being fancy and expensive, they could basically sell anything and people will still buy it at high prices.

10 most expensive wines in the world

Now that you know why wines can be so expensive, let’s take a look at the top 10 most expensive wines in the world.

10. Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc

Average price: $5, 983
Maximum price: $9,058

Screaming Eagle started in 1992 when Jean Philips decided to bottle her wine instead of selling her grapes to other wineries. As soon as they released it in 1992, they got a score of 99 (which is one point away from perfect) from the wine critic Robert Parker.

Since then, they’ve been known as the most expensive US cabernet in the world. They’re based in Oakville, USA and only produce 500 to 1,000 bottles per year.

Pairs best with: shellfish, vegetarian, and goat cheese.

9. Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru

Average price: $6,015
Maximum price: $10,280

Based in Richebourg Grand Cru, this wine dates all the way back to the post-world war in 1937. It’s pretty cool if you can get your hands on a bottle of this wine since they only produce 700 bottles per year.

Pairs best with: beef, veal, game (deer or venison), and poultry.

8. Domaine Leroy Chambertin Grand Cru

Average price: $7,480
Maximum price: $16,769

Another expensive award-winning wine by Domaine Leroy makes this list of the top 10 most expensive wines in the world. This wine was founded in 1988, making it a little younger than the Richeboug Grand Cru.

Pairs best with: beef, veal, game (deer or venison), and poultry.

7. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru

Average price: $7,924
Maximum price: $108,000

Domaine Leroy is also known to make really good, really expensive white wine. The reason this wine may be so expensive is due to the brand name, and the fact they only make 250 bottles per year!

Pairs best with: pasta, rich fish, shellfish, mild and soft cheese, and cured meat.

6. J.S. Terrantez Madeira

Average price: $8,285
Maximum price: $9,499

This wine was made in Portugal and it’s old. In fact, it dates all the way back to the same year when the US president, Thomas Jefferson was sworn in back in 1801. Finding another wine that’s the same age and still drinkable would be tough.

Pairs best with: beef, veal, game (deer or venison), or poultry.

5. Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru

Average price: $10,030
Maximum price: $15,242

Wines from this company can go for under $75 per bottle. However, if you want one from the 12 acres of Grand Cru vineyards, you’ll pay much more.

The making of this wine is rather delicate — long, gentle pneumatic pressing, decanting over 24 hours, then racking and running into cask of the must.

Pairs best with: pasta, rich fish, shellfish, mild and soft cheese, and cured meat.

4. Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Musigny Grand Cru

Average price: $12,882
Maximum price: $25,222

Another red wine by Grand Cru,  this one was established by Georges Roumier and his grandson, Christophe Roumier in 1924. After Georges died in 1965, Christophe took over the company. Today, the field is made up of about 28.5 acres in the Chambolle-Musigny, Morey-Saint-Denis, and Corton-Charlemagne regions of Burgundy.

Pairs best with: beef, veal, game (deer or venison), or poultry.

3. Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese

Average price: $13,220
Maximum price: $33,883

The most expensive white wine in the world is this one made in the Mosel region of Germany. The Miller family are authentic winemakers who’ve been producing since 1797.

Pairs best with: pork, shellfish, spicy food, poultry, and cured meat.

2. Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru

Average price: $19,702
Maximum price: $551,314

This is the second most expensive red wine in the world. As you can imagine, it must be pretty good. It’s another one from the Grand Cru farm, where they practice biodynamic farming.

Pairs best with: beef, veal, game (deer or venison), or poultry.

1. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti Grand Cru

Average price: $19,702
Maximum price: $551,314

Finally, the most expensive wine in the world on the market today. It’s true that Grand Cru dominates the expensive wine industry, but it’s justifiable considering critics from all over the world have scored this wine the highest.

Pairs best with: beef, veal, game (deer or venison), and poultry.