Last Friday (24th) and Saturday (25th), Sotheby’s Hong Kong held an auction of wine collections belonging to Tai-ming Chen, Chairman of Yageo Corporation. The two-day event saw competitive bidding, with the final amount reaching HKD 130 million (approximately TWD 525 million). Collectors from around the world placed bids on the items.

Among the wines auctioned, Chen’s collection of rare La Tâche wines was featured in the first segment, marking this event as one of the most valuable wine auctions in history. Chen mentioned that the decision to auction part of his La Tâche collection was aimed at sharing these exquisite wines with enthusiasts globally. He believes these top-tier wines will appreciate in value over time.

George Lacey, Head of Sotheby’s Asia Whisky Department, highlighted that the variety, quality, and rarity of the wines attracted collectors from all over the world. More than 80% of the bidders came from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Mainland China, and Singapore. American collectors’ participation also reached a new peak, significantly elevating the importance of the auction in the context of wine sales in Asia.

The first auction lot featured some of the world’s most prestigious wines, including Burgundy reds from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Henri Jayer, as well as well-aged white Burgundy wines. The opening lot, a collection of 10 bottles of 1999 Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux, sold for HKD 1.875 million (approximately TWD 7.571 million). Henri Jayer, known as the “Father of Burgundy,” is celebrated for his legendary wines, and the Cros Parantoux vineyard is regarded as one of the most revered and cherished in the Côte d’Or region.

Note: Please drink responsibly. Excessive drinking can be harmful to your health.