Brian Nagele
When it comes to wine, there’s usually one question at the top of the list: white or red? And anyone who enjoys wine knows that the difference between the two is far more than just the color.
Overall, white wines are generally crisper, lighter, and sweeter than reds – with a few exceptions, of course. But today we’re here to talk about the most expensive white wines in the world.
Like all types of wine, there are fancier and more expensive bottles out there. Read on to learn just how expensive the priciest white wines have sold for!
If you’re lucky enough to snag a glass of one of the following, you should know you’re enjoying one of the most expensive white wines in the world.
1811 Château d’Yquem
The 1811 Chateau d’Yquem is a white dessert wine with a lush and balanced flavor.
It’s a blended wine composed of Semillon and sauvignon blanc produced by Chateau d’Yquem in the Sauternes district of Bordeaux.
The 1811 bottle is known as one of the world’s most famous dessert wines, hence its expensive price. Critics also give it a very high score – up to 96 out of 100.
Its complex taste is marked by a balance of sweetness and freshness with just a touch of bitterness.
This particular vintage is famous for selling for around $117,000 at auction.
Domaine Leflaive Bâtard Montrachet
With a price at about $6000, it makes sense that critics have rated the Domaine Leflaive as the best Batard-Montrachet available today.
After all, a high price point should indicate high quality.
This French wine is a chardonnay with a complex and buttery flavor profile. It has a bold, dry taste with a slightly acidic finish.
If you ever get the chance to taste such a wine, look for hints of citrus and notes of earthy honey, oak, and vanilla.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet
One of the most expensive white wines on our list, you’re lucky if you find this bottle for under $4,000.
In some places, the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet can sell for as much as $15,000.
And it’s the second highest-priced white wine from Le Montrachet.
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti is a chardonnay with the standard buttery yet complex profile.
DRC, as it’s commonly referred to, is a French, dry, oaked white that surprises its drinkers with its elegance and a hint of rose petals, tree fruits, and earthy notes.
Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
If you’re feeling up to spending as much as ten grand on a bottle of white, Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru should be your wine of choice.
This French white wine is another buttery chardonnay that pairs well with chicken and turkey dishes.
Not only is this wine the third most expensive chardonnay from Corton-Charlemagne, but it’s also the second most sought-after wine from Corton Grand Cru on the well-known website, Wine-Searcher. The average price is estimated at around $7000 per bottle.
In typical chardonnay fashion, this highly-rated white is dry and bold with a good balance of soft and acidic flavors. It’s marked by hints of citrus and earth notes with hints of oak and caramel.
Domaine Leroy d’Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
This rare French wine is another very expensive bottle, should you ever find it.
The Domaine Leroy d’Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru is estimated to cost around $32,000 per bottle, but it has sold for as high as $64,000.
This wine has a butter and complex flavor with a balanced finish, and notes of stone fruits like apricots and peaches as well as pears and honey.
Domaine Ramonet Montrachet Grand Cru
Another selection out of Cote de Beaune, France, the Domaine Ramonet Montrachet Grand Cru is a complex chardonnay that is more expensive than most white wines from Le Montrachet.
It’s also more highly rated than most, given a critic score of 96 out of 100 by The Wine Advocate.
This dry white runs anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 a bottle. It’s woven with floral and citrus aromas paired with toasty notes, intertwining hints of spice, pear, and apricot.
It’s a sophisticated and balanced taste with a deep, full-bodied texture.
Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 1959
You’ll notice that most wines on this list have been French – and France is famous for its wines.
But this bottle is a German wine. It’s actually Germany’s most expensive white wine.
The Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 1959 is a crisp riesling, and the 1959 vintage is famously delicious and expensive.
A bottle of this wine typically goes for $30,000 to $40,000.
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 1973
This wine may not be the most expensive on the list, but it is a famous bottle worth noting.
The Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 1973 is the only American wine on the list, hailing from the Napa Valley.
This bottle of chardonnay is famous for winning over many famous and prestigious French wines at the Judgement of Paris tasting in 1976.
When it was first released, you could get this bottle of wine for about $6.50. Now, it has sold for over $11,000.
Domaine d’Auvenay Criots-Bâtard
As we wrap up our list, I’ll leave you with one of the most expensive bottles of white wine you could ever find.
Domaine d’Auvenay Criots-Batard sells for almost $30,000. In some cases, you may even see bottles for over $50,000.
This chardonnay hails from Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet, France, and has been scored as the best Chassagne-Montrachet wine available today.
The small plot produces less than 300 bottles per year, making it incredibly rare. Critics have described it as subtle, weightless, and gracious with intense flavor including citrus, pear, and white flowers.
You can expect the familiar dryness of buttery chardonnay.
