The world’s most expensive Champagnes include one that comes with an NFT
A celebratory glass of sparkling Champagne is definitely a welcome addition to any special occasion, but how much would you be willing to pay to experience the pinnacle of great wine? Whether you’re an art or a wine connoisseur, these expensive Champagnes easily tick both boxes, with exquisite hand-crafted logos and Swarovski crystals adorning the bottles before one has even popped a cork.
The world’s most expensive Champagne takes things one step further by reflecting our times with an NFT component. It begs the question of how the next bottle of bubbly will be sold and in what currency.
Those who are fortunate enough to get their hands on these Champagnes may find themselves sipping from the cup of history or breaking world records.
Champagne Avenue Foch 2017
US$2.5 million
Produced by a family-owned estate in Chamery, north-eastern France using 100 percent Premier Cru grapes, Chateau Avenue Foch 2017 fetched an extravagant sum of US$2.5 million by Italian crypto investors Giovanni and Piero Buono. The duo was offered an NFT featuring the ‘Bored Mutant Ape’ alongside the other collectible cartoon figures displayed on the one of a kind Magnum bottle on OpenSea. This novel idea was sparked by British entrepreneur and NFT trader Shammi Shinh in collaboration with artist Mig.
"My first limited edition bottle, which set the world record for world’s most expensive champagne in 2013, featured a 19-carat diamond," Shinh explained in an interview with Luxuriate Life. "Ten years later, observing public interest in art and technology, I went beyond the limits of luxury and set a new concept of incorporating NFT art and technology into luxury."
Goût de Diamants (Taste of Diamonds) 2013
US$1.8 million
In 2013, Shinh also made headlines with the release of Goût de Diamants (Taste of Diamonds), which was crafted from Grand Cru grapes grown on a family-owned estate in Oger in north-eastern France. The eye-catching design on each bespoke bottle features a glistening Swarovski crystal in the center of a diamond-shaped logo. Liam Payne from the boy band One Direction splurged US$1.47 million on this Alexander Amosu-designed masterpiece at a friend’s birthday party, which was celebrated at a London nightclub. At the time, the 19-year-old was one of the world’s highest-earning musicians.
Krug 1928
US$21,200
Considered to be one of the best Champagnes ever, Krug 1928 was one of the last bottles of this vintage housed in the cellars of the Krug Collection. A long aging process coupled with ideal weather conditions produced a champagne that boasts a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. In 2009, when the 1928 Krug was sold at Acker Merrall & Condit’s first Hong Kong auction with its exuberant price tag attached, it was noted in the catalog for its ‘outstanding color and condition’, while setting a world record as the most expensive bottle of Champagne sold at auction.
Armand de Brignac Rosé 30-Liters
US$275,000
Armand de Brignac Champagnes are produced by Champagne Cattier, a family owned Champagne house that has been operating for more than 13 generations in Chigny-les-Roses, France. Armand de Brignac Rosé is recognizable by its salmon hue and fresh strawberry aroma. The bottle has a weight of 45 kilograms and a height of more than one meter– this equates to 40 standard-sized 750 milliliter bottles. The first bottle was uncorked at Jay-Z’s after-party in 2013.
Armand de Brignac Brut Gold Midas 30-Liters
US$100,000
This striking bottle is recognizable by its metallic golden hue, making reference to the Greek myth of King Midas turning everything he touched into gold. Produced with labor-intensive methods by the Cattier family, each bottle is aged up to five years in oak casks, ensuring a superior quality. In 2010, the first Midas was sold for US$100,000 at well-known Las Vegas nightclub Encore Casino. Weighing 45 kilograms, the golden bottle was carried in by two strongmen at the after-party to the table of the anonymous buyer.
Dom Pérignon Rose Gold Methuselah 1996, six-Liters
US$49,000
The vintages produced by Dom Pérignon are believed to be some of the best wines in the world, and have become synonymous with luxury. In fact, the sight of the brand’s light coppery liquid is said to make a wine lover’s heart beat a little faster. The label’s name pays tribute to Benedictine monk Pierre Pérignon (1638–1715), also known as the ‘father of Champagne’, whose mission it was to craft the best wine. Indeed, the invention of sparkling wine, free of any impurities, is attributed to Pérignon. Priced at US$49,000, the 1996 Rose Gold Methuselah is the most expensive bottle of Dom Pérignon that reflects a particularly fruitful harvest during that year.
1820 Juglar Cuvée
US$43,500
It may be difficult to comprehend that Champagne buried in the depths of the Baltic Sea for almost two centuries could still retain its flavor and freshness, yet this was precisely the case with the 1820 Juglar Cuvée. In fact, the mystery surrounding this rare occurrence in the history of Champagne has only served to increase the champagne’s perceived worth alongside its price tag. Who would have thought that the ocean floor could provide the ideal conditions – darkness and low temperatures – needed to store wine in? In 2010, divers salvaged a cache of 168 champagne bottles in a shipwreck at the bottom of the ocean. The 1820 Juglar Cuvée was believed to have been produced by Champagne Juglar, a house which was incorporated into Champagne Jacquesson in 1829. While little is known about the sea vessel, it is thought that the final destination was the royal court in Saint Petersburg, Russia, which might explain the bottles’ hefty price tags.
1841 Veuve Clicquot
US$34,000
In the same shipwreck that contained the 1820 Juglar Cuvée was also a bottle of Veuve Clicquot that dates back to 1841. At the time, it was considered to be the world’s oldest Champagne that was bought by restaurateur Julia Sherstyuk from auction house Acker Merrall & Condit. Sherstyuk, who was searching for something novel for her Russian haute-cuisine, Singapore-based restaurant Buyan and was willing to invest in this extravagant addition to her existing million-dollar wine collection. She also purchased a bottle of Jugler.
"We are always on the lookout for various connections between Singapore and Russia. So, when we discovered that these bottles were headed for the Russian court, of course we were interested," she told Twisted Lifestyle.
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