Acker Makes History with Sale of World’s Most Expensive Bottle of Wine Ever Sold at Auction

1945 Romanée-Conti from the Cellar of Robert Drouhin Shatters World Record at $812,500

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acker, the world’s largest fine wine auction house and America’s oldest wine merchant, set a new world record in fine wine when a single 750 ml bottle of 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti—originally sourced from the personal cellar of Robert Drouhin—sold for $812,500 at Acker’s La Paulée auction this past weekend. The sale surpasses the previous world record of $558,000 set in 2018, cementing the 1945 vintage as the most coveted bottle in the history of wine collecting.

Acker’s annual La Paulée Auction, livestreamed in New York City at Marea, was held in conjunction with the world’s greatest Burgundy celebration. The event delivered a historic three-day performance March 26–28, surpassing $25 million in total sales and setting an extraordinary 460 new world records.

The 1945 Romanée-Conti represents the final vintage produced before Domaine de la Romanée-Conti replanted its oldest vines—grapes that had survived phylloxera, two World Wars and nearly a century of Burgundy history. With production extremely limited, surviving bottles have long been considered the pinnacle of wine collecting, with many connoisseurs believing the pre-phylloxera vines add an unmatched depth and complexity to the wine.

“We made history this weekend,” said John Kapon, Chairman of Acker. “I’ve had the privilege of tasting the 1945 Romanée-Conti just three times in my life, and it is the greatest wine I’ve ever tasted. This remarkable sale was just one of hundreds of record-breaking achievements at an auction that highlighted the accelerating demand for trophy wines at the highest end of the fine wine market. This weekend’s event exemplified the soul and spirit of Burgundy, bringing together the world’s top producers and collectors and creating the perfect conditions for a truly historic result.”

The 1945 Romanée-Conti has consistently commanded record-breaking prices at auction, driven by its extraordinary provenance, mythic scarcity and status as the last expression of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti prior to the replanting of vines. The provenance of this particular bottle—drawn directly from the cellar of Robert Drouhin, one of the most revered names in Burgundy—added an additional layer of significance for bidders and collectors worldwide.

The blistering La Paulée auction set 460 new world records in total, led by Domaine Dujac with 27, followed by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti with 23. Other domaines in high demand included Leflaive (20 new world records), Coche-Dury (19), Duroché (19), Ramonet (16) and Alex Moreau and Bouchard (15 each).

Acker’s 2026 auction season continues with a sale in Hong Kong on April 11, a special Single Cellar auction in the US on April 17, and May sales in Switzerland, Singapore and the US. Consignments are now being accepted for May and June, and weekly web auction deadlines remain every Friday. For more information, please email [e-mail].

About Acker

Founded in 1820, Acker is America’s oldest wine merchant and the largest fine and rare wine auction house globally. Now in its third century, the company serves collectors worldwide through a full suite of fine wine services, including retail sourcing and auctions, as well as cellar management, storage, and appraisals, investment advisory, bespoke events and tastings, and wine excursions. With a global platform spanning the United States, Europe, and Asia, Acker brings these capabilities together as The World’s Destination for Fine & Rare Wine™. Acker’s annual La Paulée auction remains one of the most celebrated events on the fine wine calendar.