A 1945 bottle of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wine has set a new world record at auction. On March 31, 2026, during the international event La Paulée in New York, it sold for $812,500, surpassing the previous record of $558,000 set in 2018.
What makes the sale extraordinary is not only the price but also the bottle's historical legacy. The 1945 vintage was the last before the legendary Côte de Nuits vineyard was replanted due to phylloxera damage, representing a unique piece of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's history.
From that wine produced in Burgundy, there are about 600 bottles, born in a complex historical context between world wars and changes in the management of the famous Domaine, led by figures such as Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy and Aubert de Villaine.
The auction, organized by Acker, one of the most prestigious specialists in rare wines, achieved over $25 million, breaking 460 world records. "I have had the privilege of tasting the 1945 Romanée-Conti only three times in my life," said John Kapon, chairman of Acker, "and it is the best wine I have ever tasted."
"The rarity lies not only in the limited number of bottles but also in the fact that it is the last harvest produced from pre-phylloxera vines, which give it a unique complexity," he added. The renowned French winery led the list of the ten most expensive bottles. A 1971 Methuselah of La Tâche and 12 bottles of 1999 Romanée-Conti, both in their original packaging, ranked second, each selling for $325,000.