A bottle of 1821 Grand Constance wine meant for Napoleon Bonaparte shattered auction estimates when it sold for $30,000 last weekend at the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction (CFRWA) held in Stellenbosch, South Africa at the Rupert Museum.
Representatives from the CFRWA predicted that the bottle would fetch between approximately $6,000-$9,000, but bidding continued well after that mark was cleared, Decanter reports.
Less than a dozen bottles are believed to exist from a shipment that was destined for the island of St. Helena for Napoleon’s enjoyment. The last time one of these bottles was offered was in 2016, when a lucky bidder won the auction for approximately $1,720.
Napoleon is reported to have enjoyed a bottle of his favorite Constantia wine daily, consuming approximately 30 per month. But this vintage was spared when the former emperor died in 1821 while in exile.
The wine’s producer, Groot Constantia, is the oldest winery in South Africa, known for “crafting legendary” wines since 1685, according to its website. The brand is recognized as a pioneer in the sweet wine world, and the Grand Constance is a perpetual award-winner.
South Africa’s renowned drinks maker, Distell, was listed as the seller, and the firm retains two more of the historic vintages in its holdings. The bottles were re-corked in 2019 to preserve the integrity of the product and guarantee that the precious wine is still drinkable.
While it’s not known if the new owner is looking for a sound investment or a solid reason to celebrate, we know many people that would kindly invite them over for a world-class tasting party.
