Sotheby’s wine sales this year didn’t quite match the record $88.2m achieved last year, but totals from their 23 auctions worldwide came surprisingly close, given the troubled financial climate, with a total of $85.5m. As has become common, the 6 Hong Kong events, which realized $44.7m, accounted for the largest segment. London, where Sotheby’s held 13 auctions, came second, with a total of $27.2m—the auction house’s strongest showing in 41 years of U.K. wine sales.
That was 30% above Sotheby’s London tally last year. And what were wine collectors buying? “Bordeaux remains the backbone of classic wine auctions,” said Sotheby’s Serena Sutcliff, “but top end Burgundy is highly sought after, with buyers from every corner of the globe.”
