Sotheby’s has reported $127.5 million in wine and spirits auction sales for 2025, marking 12% year-on-year growth and more than doubling the $47 million recorded a decade ago. The auction house conducted 69 sales across eight cities, sold 26,509 lots, and attracted bidders from 63 countries, setting a new record for participation.
“Our 2025 results underscore the strength and momentum of Sotheby’s Wine & Spirits business,” said Nick Pegna, Global Head of Sotheby’s Wine & Spirits. “This success has been driven by a truly international buyer base, strong growth in new collectors, and our depth of expertise in presenting landmark single-owner collections.”
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Spirits held steady at 20% of auction sales, while Burgundy led all categories, at 39% of sales and Bordeaux nearly doubled its 2024 share to reach 28%.
The Macallan retained the top spirits producer position for a fifth consecutive year, commanding 18% of sales. Kweichow Moutai followed closely at 16%. Van Winkle entered the top three for the first time, and Old Fitzgerald broke into the top 10.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti topped the wine producer rankings with 17% of sales. Petrus and Lafite both more than doubled their market share. The highest-value wine lot was a 12-bottle case of Romanée-Conti 1990, which sold in Hong Kong for $449,890.
The Glenlivet SPIRA 60 Year Old 1965 achieved $864,825 at The Distillers One of One charity auction, making it the highest-selling charity spirits lot. That sale raised $3.9 million total across 39 ultra-rare scotch whiskies.
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Sotheby’s also hosted the 165th Hospices de Beaune auction, which generated $23.5 million across 552 lots. Both partnerships were renewed—Hospices de Beaune through 2030, and The Distillers One of One through 2033.
“We are equally proud of the role we continue to play in prestigious charity auctions around the world,” Pegna added.
Nearly half of all wine buyers were under 50, and one-third were new to Sotheby’s. The buyer base remained evenly split across Asia (31%), the Americas (32%), and EMEA (37%). Japan entered the top 10 wine buyer markets for the first time.
The auction house expanded its physical footprint in 2025, staging first wine sales at The Grotto in Hong Kong, La Cave in Paris, and its new Breuer building headquarters on Madison Avenue in New York. Full-time specialists were also appointed in Tokyo and Zurich.
For the sixth consecutive year, the top lot globally within Sotheby’s Wine & Spirits division was a spirit. Seven of the top 10 spirits lots sold globally were handled by Sotheby’s.
