Sotheby’s world of fine wine collections has a diverse set of offerings, from vintage bottles to rare, most expensive ones like the 1869 label – the first vintage the Rothschild family produced in their chateau winery in Médoc. The auction house’s wine stewards guide buyers and guests through the nuances of different wine regions and provide an indulgent experience wrapped in the elegance of the brand’s heritage and prestige. They continue to offer a highly curated approach to building a portfolio of rare and valuable wines, with auctions and events that cater to every vinoephile, beginner or distinguished.
For those who have an interest in broadening their wine knowledge through unique oenological journeys and rare collections, there are plenty of opportunities to do so in the upcoming Cité du Vin auction.
Sotheby’s and Cité du Vin in Bordeaux Come Together to Benefit the Wine Culture Heritage
Under the patronage of the auction house, the third edition of Wine and Dine Experiences | Benefiting the Wine Culture Heritage takes place this October, with an online sale of exceptional wines and curated vinicultural experiences that will benefit the Foundation of Cité du Vin of Bordeaux. The auction runs until 27 October and all proceeds from the sale will go towards supporting the foundation’s noble mission to safeguard and showcase the universal heritage of wine to a wide audience. It will also help with Cité du Vin’s cultural program for 2026, to host interactive workshops with over 40,000 annual visitors from 180 nationalities expected to attend its global wine tourism projects and other cultural activities that celebrate the diversity of wine heritage.
Immersive Experiences and Bespoke Labels
There are a total of 64 top lots leading the auction, with 90% of them offering private tours of wineries and overnight stays at some of the world’s most prestigious wine estates, including Opus One, in Napa Valley.
A sojourn of fine dining at grand Châteaux and Michelin-starred restaurants, a vineyard tasting and lunch, a handpicked selection of wines – many in rare large bottles – these are all moments made to last and will linger long after the final glass. In another line-up of highlights, a magnum of Château d’Yquem Sauternes 2005 is paired with lunch at the estate for six, a jeroboam of Champagne Deutz 1998 comes with a private tour and lunch at Maison Deutz, while another jeroboam of Pomerol 2018 by Château Le Pin includes a private visit and tasting followed by lunch for four with the owners at the estate and complimentary access to visit the Cité du Vin (starting bid $17,000-35,000).
Cité du Vin Collection: 1855–2025
A once-in-a-lifetime ensemble of 88 singular bottles of Grands Crus Classés – Médoc and Sauternes – the Cité du Vin 1855-2025 Collection sits in a class of its own as a treasure created to mark the 10th birthday of Cité du Vin in Bordeaux and the 170th anniversary of the 1855 Classification established by Napoleon III for the Paris Universal Exhibition, to promote the excellence of wines. Each bottle is a rarity, specially marked by a commemorative back label and presented in bespoke hand-engraved wooden cases by La Caisserie du Bazadais.
This treasure collection is an invitation to travel to the heart of wine cultures, accompanied by an exclusive three-day experience for two couples in Bordeaux with free transfers, private tours, tastings and exclusive dinners in legendary estates, including Château Batailley, Pontet-Canet, Cos d’Estournel, Giscours, Mouton Rothschild, de Malle, and d’Yquem. (bids start at $12,000-22,000)
A Decade of Culture with Cité du Vin
An essential destination in Bordeaux and a landmark often referred to as the “Guggenheim of wine”, Cité du Vin has been welcoming over three million visitors each year since 2014. With striking architecture resembling an inverted carafe and design that flows like wine being swirled in a glass, the venue is well established as the world’s most comprehensive site for vinophiles, offering collectors the chance to engage directly with the living history of this drink. Cité du Vin's universe is shaped by the cultural, universal, and living heritage of wine, consistently hosting a string of interactive and digital exhibitions, sensory journeys, tasting workshops, cultural missions and wine tourism projects.
This French wine museum shaped like a decanter offers a 360° panorama of Bordeaux’s UNESCO-listed cityscape and surrounding vineyards. One of its most unforgettable exhibits is the Buffet of Five Senses, a sensory experience that trains the nose to detect 19 different wine aromas – through brass trumpets that emit various scents – from leather and cherries to leafy tobacco notes and spices like clove and cedar.
Final Note
From the heart of Bordeaux, the world’s greatest wine producers open their cellars and their doors with generosity for this special auction. Beyond rare bottles with incredible provenance, collectors are offered something rarer still – personal encounters with the makers and a chance to step into fine wine estates that few ever get to see in a lifetime. Each bottle carries its own story, shaped by its origin, the character of the land, and the talented hands that brought it to life.
The history and significance that wine holds make it so much more than a drink, and Sotheby’s remain, as they have throughout history, the perfect vessel to showcase this to the world.
