15 Most Expensive White Wine Bottles: Prices, What Makes Them Costly

The world of fine wine abounds with wine enthusiasts and elite collectors eager to get their hands on a rare vintage. 

Red wine is traditionally considered more expensive than white due to its longer aging and intensive wine-making practices. However, some fine whites also come with jaw-dropping price tags. 

Which expensive white wine commands the highest value?

Find out the most expensive white wines you can buy in 2023 and the most expensive ones ever sold at auctions. Also, discover the key factors that contribute to a wine’s high cost.

10 Most Expensive White Wine Bottles To Buy in 2023 (Taste and Prices)

Here are ten of the world’s priciest white wines: 

1. Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru 2017 ($16,856)
2. Moët & Chandon Esprit du Siècle Brut NV ($6,285)
3. Domaine Leroy d'Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France 1998 ($64,650)
4. Domaine Leroy d'Auvenay Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2013 ($24,613)
5. Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 1973 ($11,325)
6. Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 1959 ($33,374)
7. Champagne Krug Clos d'Ambonnay 1995 ($3,999)
8. Salon Cuvee 'S' Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 1996 ($9,559)
9. Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc 2013 ($6,894)
10. Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux 'Goutte d'Or' 1990 ($549)

1. Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru 2017 ($16,856) 

Domaine Leflaive has emerged as a pioneer of biodynamic winemaking in Burgundy, and collectors clammer to get their hands on this rare Grand Cru Chardonnay vintage. 

It’s a bold, dry, and deliciously acidic wine with honey, butter, and peach flavors, an elegant nose, and a lingering finish. 

2. Moët & Chandon Esprit du Siècle Brut NV ($6,285)

This wine is one of the rarest Champagnes, created in the late 90s to celebrate the new millennium. It’s an exceptional blend of some of Moet’s best vintages of the 20th century. 

This satin-smooth Brut Champagne reveals layered aromas of coffee and praline with citrusy undertones. The crisp acidity enhances the tropical fruit flavor and leads to a delightfully long finish. 

3. Domaine Leroy d'Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France 1998 ($64,650)

Domaine Leroy produces consistently great red and white wines, which are extremely rare and sought-after by savvy investors and wine enthusiasts.

This highly coveted French wine has ripe apricot, peach, and pear notes with a stone and honey flavor. This perfectly layered wine has balanced acidity and an impressively long finish. 

4. Domaine Leroy d'Auvenay Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2013 ($24,613)

Here’s another great wine from Domaine Leroy produced in extremely small quantities. Due to its rarity, only a lucky few can get their hands on this vintage. 

This buttery, dry white wine has delicious peach, apricot, and green apple flavors with flint, smoke, and citrus notes. Produced from the Chardonnay grape variety, it has great complexity and a long delicious finish. 

5. Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 1973 ($11,325)

This legendary 1976 “Judgement of Paris” winner is one of the most sought-after white Burgundies in the world. Christian Vanneque praised it for its delicate balance and great aging potential.

With its bold, slightly sweet, yet balanced flavors, it’s no surprise this Napa Valley wine beat more experienced wine producers of the day to win the coveted title. 

6. Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 1959 ($33,374)

This crisp, fresh, well-balanced Riesling wine with nice strong acidity and freshness is Germany’s most expensive. The initial intense fruit flavors are followed by hints of honey, beeswax, and lemon, with a smooth finish. 

This sweet white wine is made with noble rot grapes. This removes excess water in the grape and concentrates the residual sugar, aroma, and flavor.

7. Champagne Krug Clos d'Ambonnay 1995 ($3,999)

Here we have a single-vineyard Champagne hailing from the prestigious Krug wine producer. The wine was aged for 15 years before being released for sale in 1995.

The wine has a complex nose, graphite, toast, and spice notes with a citrusy, mineral flavor. Only 250 cases of this sublime Blanc de Noirs wine were released, making it a rare and expensive vintage. 

8. Salon Cuvee 'S' Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 1996 ($9,559)

Here’s another extremely rare Champagne with great aging potential.

It has citrus, lemon, and grapefruit flavors, with brioche, almond, and mineral notes. The initial lively display of fine bubbles is short but lovely with a long, citrusy finish. 

9. Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc 2013 ($6,894)

Here we have an invigorating wine from the cult Screaming Eagle Napa Valley winery. Vintages from this legendary winery are produced in limited quantities.  

This Sauvignon Blanc has great minerality and a fresh grapefruit aroma. Layered floral, melon, and green apple flavors and acidity result in an intense, complex, and refreshing wine. 

10. Philippe Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux 'Goutte d'Or' 1990 ($549)

If you prefer a Chenin Blanc, this divine Loire Valley wine is sure to impress with its enticingly smooth, layered notes of quince, honey, and caramel. The flavor profile is balanced with medium acidity and subtle minerality. 

The hefty price tag is because only four vintages of this wine were produced - 1947, 1990, 2011, and 2015, making it extremely rare. 

5 Most Expensive White Wine Bottles Ever Sold at Auction

Here are five white wines that performed exceptionally well at auctions:

1. Château dYquem 1811 ($117,000)
2. 1947 Cheval Blanc ($304,375)
3. 1907 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne ($275,000)
4. 1874 Perrier-Jouët Champagne ($56,981)
5. Circa 1820 Juglar Cuvée ($43,500)

1. Chateau dYquem 1811 ($117,000)

This historic wine was adored by elite wine lovers like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and even Russian tzars who were enchanted by the signature dYquem taste. 

During a 1996 tasting, wine experts, including Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate), scored this 200-year-old wine 100 points.

In 2011, it was sold by the Antique Wine Company for $117,000 to wine collector and master sommelier Christian Vanneque.

2.  1947 Cheval Blanc ($304,375)

At a Christie’s auction in Geneva in 2010, a rare six-liter bottle of this highly sought-after Bordeaux fetched an astonishing $304,375. 

This wine is heralded as one of the best Bordeaux wines of all time, mainly due to its rarity and prolonged lifespan. According to experts, it can be cellared for at least another 50 years. 

3. 1907 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne ($275,000)

Popularly known as the 1907 Shipwrecked Heidsieck, this expensive bottle was sold at an auction in Moscow for $275,000. 

In 1916, this bottle, along with 167 others, was part of a consignment headed to Russia on a Swedish ship. The ship was hit by a German submarine and sank. The shipwreck and its valuable cargo remained underwater for 80 years. 

The wine was eventually salvaged and auctioned off.  

4. 1874 Perrier-Jouët Champagne ($56,981)

In a 2021 Christies auction, an 1874 vintage of Perrier-Jouet Champagne sold for an astounding $56,981. This 147-year-old wine smashed all pre-auction estimates - it was originally expected to fetch $20,000. 

This vintage is extremely rare. The only bottles left are owned by the winemaker. The fact that this wine was stored for 150 years in ideal conditions contributed to its huge price tag.

5.  Circa 1820 Juglar Cuvée ($43,500)

Here’s another extremely coveted and expensive bottle from the 1916 shipwreck. 

Although the Juglar Champagne House no longer exists, this wine was auctioned for an astonishing $43,000 due to its rarity and near-perfect preservation under the ocean for 150 years.

The exact vintage of this bottle is not known, but experts estimate it originated in the early 19th century. 

What Makes Some White Wines Expensive?

Three main factors influence how expensive wine can get: 

• Oak: Oak-aged wines are generally more expensive because of the high cost of oak barrels. The oak aging results in a silky mouthfeel and elegant vanilla, creme brulee, caramel, and dried fruit flavors. 
• Aging: Time alters the fruit flavors of wine and mellows the acidity. Well-aged white wines have complex dried and stewed fruit hints. The wine also becomes smoother and more balanced over time. 
• Terroir: To produce the best grapes, winemakers usually reduce yields. This ensures the grape juice has a more concentrated flavor and creates a more intense wine. 

The location of the vineyard is also important. Seasonal growing temperatures, climate, elevation, and soil type also impact the quality of the wine. The most expensive wine labels come from prestigious grand cru vineyard sites. 

The cost of production, prestige, and rarity of the wine also affect its price. 

Clearly, the world of fine wine investment is an exciting one. 

But, how can you ensure that the wines you buy are authentic and will appreciate over time?

Instead of searching through endless lists online or trying your luck at a fiercely competitive wine auction, you’d be better off utilizing the services of a world-class online wine investment company like Vinovest. 

This way, you will be able to build a winning wine portfolio easily!

Raise a Glass To Extravagant White Wine

From a rich Chardonnay wine to a refreshing Pinot Grigio or enticing Pinot Gris, you’re sure to find a white wine that suits your taste, budget, and investment goals. 

Now, whether you’re a novice wine drinker or a more experienced wine lover, the best way to invest in a bottle of fine white wine or a delicious red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon, or Pinot Noir, is with Vinovest.