No matter its price, champagne is never too expensive for the rich. The spending habits of the wealthy may puzzle some, but when evaluating the most expensive luxury items ever purchased, it’s clear that exclusivity plays a role.

Despite the fact that we all love a drink and a toast on special occasions, the cost of the most expensive champagne ever sold would make us wonder if it is bought for consumption or to be presented as an object of collection.

Prices are reflected in US Dollars at the amounts for which they were originally sold, as conversion to the current Naira value would increase the original cost.

10. Louis Roederer, Cristal Brut 1990 Millennium Cuvée Mathusalem. Price: $18,800

The cheapest champagne on this list is a 1990 Louis Roederer Cristal Millennium Brut. The champagne house only produced 2,000 of these highly sought-after bottles, each containing 6 litres, the equivalent of 8 regular bottles.

The large bottle in which this champagne is packaged also contributes to its premium price. Even though it was only made in limited quantities in the form of a huge bottle, it would still come at a high price.

9. 1928 Krug. Price: $21,200

When the Krug was auctioned in 2009, it was bought for a record $21,200. 2009 was also a year where everyone cut their budget due to a global recession, which makes this award even more impressive.

Even if the most expensive champagne is today more than 100 times more expensive than this bottle, its impact remains unchanged. Those who tried this champagne said it was worth it.

This expensive bottle of champagne is unique because very few are still in existence and the last time it was officially sold was in 1939, just before the start of World War II.

8. 1841 Veuve Clicquot. Price: $34,000

Veuve Clicquot bottles dating back to 1841 have been found underwater in the Baltic Sea after nearly 200 years of undisturbed storage. Fortunately, the champagne bottles were able to retain their quality as the seabed proved to be ideal storage conditions.

For this reason, the House of Veuve Clicquot has begun testing the Aland Vault, a deep sea storage container. The firm hopes that this “sea cave”, which is part of an experiment initiated by the discovery of the shipwreck, will lead to a new and unprecedented method of aging wines and champagnes on the high seas.

Almost all of the 1,841 Veuve Clicquot bottles found were sold at auction, with the highest bid reaching $34,000.

7. 1959 Dom Perignon Rosé. Price: $42,350

Given that the brand’s first year of Rosé production meant that it was never made available to the general public, Dom Pérignon Rosé 1959 champagne is, against all odds, one of the most difficult to locate.

The majority of the Rosé ended up going to the Shah of Iran to be offered to guests at the inaugural party in honor of the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire, according to some reports. This champagne was difficult to locate for many years before two bottles finally appeared in 2008.

The rare and expensive champagnes were quickly put up for auction and Robert A. Rosania, a real estate businessman, bought them for the colossal sum of $42,350 a bottle.

6. Cuvée Juglar 1820 – $43,500

Only one bottle of 1820 Juglar Cuvée, another premium champagne brand found in a shipwreck, could be rescued, making it exceptionally unique and highly sought after by wealthier consumers.
The most expensive champagne to come out of the wreckage, it fetched $43,500 at auction.

We can appreciate the exorbitant price because this bottle was essentially the only one of its kind ever made. People want to own things that are exclusive or that they can brag about.

5. 1996 Dom Perignon Rose Gold Methuselah: Price: $49,000

Champagne firm Dom Pérignon is renowned for being one of the best purveyors of expensive champagne, but only its 1996 Champagne Rose Gold Methuselah is more expensive and rare than all of its previous offerings.
Only 35 bottles of Rose Gold Methuselah were made, and each was gold-plated. It was made from grapes composed of 30% Chardonnay and 70% Pinot Noir. These pricey bottles sell for at least $49,000 and are always quick to sell out. They are then put up for auction, where wealthy buyers compete for the privilege of obtaining this bottle.

4. 2011 Armand de Brignac 15 liters. Price: $90,000

This champagne, which is produced by the company owned by one of the richest rappers of all time, Jay-Z, looks and tastes luxurious.

Each bottle of this extraordinary champagne, also known as Ace of Spades, takes 6 months to produce, making it a work of art in its own right. He appeared in several films and music videos, increasing his demand.

This sparkling drink, which was made by the Cattier family, a well-known champagne company, is full of flavor that has been described as a blend of pear, nectarine, sweet butter and honeysuckle.

3. 2013 Armand de Brignac Rosé 30 liters Midas. Price: $275,000

With this astonishing 30-liter behemoth, Jay-Z’s brand has gone even further. The 2013 Armand de Brignac holds the record for the most expensive rosé champagne ever produced. Moreover, it has the same volume as 40 normal champagne bottles. One of the largest liquor bottles in the world, it stands over 4 feet tall and weighs over 45 kilograms.

This champagne was created in very small batches and each bottle required the manual work of eight artisans. The Hakkasan Las Vegas restaurant, part of the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, hosted the launch of the first bottle.

2. 2013 The taste of diamonds. Price: $2.07 million

This 2013 bottle, which was produced from a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Grand Cru Chardonnay grapes, once held the title of the most expensive champagne in the world. Its exorbitant price is due to the fact that Alexander Amosu, a high-end designer, made it for a private client.

The extravagant price of this bottle was undoubtedly inflated by the 19 carat pristine white diamond in the middle of the label. A 48 gram 18k white gold label is also included with this black bottle.
This champagne was produced in a limited quantity of only 10 bottles, which makes it special. Additionally, Champagne Business News named it “Best Taste of Champagne 2012”.

1. Champagne Avenue Foch 2017, sold for $2.5 million

A limited edition 1 of 1 champagne sold by NFT ‘Magnum 2.5’ is the most expensive champagne in the world. Bought on OpenSea as NFT for 2500 ETH, which is equivalent to US$2.5 million. It was in July 2022.

The 2017 Avenue Foch Champagne magnum was gifted with an NFT which gives the holder the digital art and intellectual property rights to an image of a now famous Bored Ape Mutant, alongside the other collectible cartoon characters featured on the bottle.

Resulting from a partnership between the British entrepreneur Shammi Shinh and Sneaky Vampire Syndicate, what makes Champagne Avenue Foch the most expensive, besides its taste and its manufacture, is its bottle.

From a family estate, Champagne Avenue Foch is made from 100% Premier Cru grapes. The bottle has artwork done by Sneaky Vampire Syndicate and Shammi’s trademark sparkle with diamond cut Swarovski stones.
Its buyers are the Italian brothers Giovanni and Piero Buono. The duo is made up of investors involved in the crypto market, as well as the fashion and tech industries.

What sets it apart is its Superman style logo handcrafted from solid 18k gold, but also set prominently at its center is a single flawless deep cut white diamond weighing 19k, which replaces the Swarovski crystal that is usually found there.

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