Christie’s will play host to two events that will bring the most superior and well-crafted wines to Los Angeles.

By Marcos Colón

One decade ago, on September 18 and 19, an extraordinary wine auction was hosted in London at Christie’s on King Street. The sale, titled Grands Crus, consisted of 1,499 lots of some of the most exquisite and sought-after wines that could be conjured even by the most confident and imaginative wine lover. The entirety of the wine put up for auction came from the expansive collection of Christen Sveaas, a successful Norwegian businessman and entrepreneur who has an unerring eye for the best in all things and a particular passion and knowledge of fine wines. The auction’s total sales topped $11 million, which still stands as a record amount for any wine auction ever held in Europe.

California’s current claim to notoriety in the wine industry is thanks to Napa Valley, aka Wine Country USA, which offers more than 200 wineries grown in many different grape varieties including Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Merlot. Recently the wine market in Los Angeles has been expanding, with Christie’s wine division holding larger and more prestigious wine events in the city. The Grands Crus auction has been strategically moved to Christie’s Los Angeles, bringing more attention to the market, attracting even more oenophiles to the area.

On November 3, Los Angeles will play host to two colossal events that will make their reputation in the wine market escalate. Christie’s single-cellar highlight will be the Grands Crus II sale, with beautiful gems like 1945 Mouton estimated to sell for at least $8 million, being sold by mega-collector Sveaas.

Christie’s Los Angeles will also be hosting The Quintessential Modern Cellar: An Evening Sale, where a single-owner collection, built with the help of the finest Los Angeles wine merchants and retailers, will be available. The 311-lot sale, which will feature the most sought-after Bordeaux and Burgundy wines from the last 30 years, is expected to fetch more than $2 million. The offerings include key vintages from the first growths of the Médoc; the two giants of Pomerol and La Fleur Pétrus; and wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Notable selections highlighting the satisfying taste and opulence of great wine include a case of 1985 and two cases of 1990 Romanée-Conti, along with 12 vintages of Pétrus from 1970 to 1994.

Los Angeles represents a growing market for the bonafide wine connoisseur, rapidly expanding to be comparable to that of London’s. With an international trade driving the economy and Napa Valley located just hours away, the potential for further growth is infinite.