Krug 1915 makes $116,000

One of the last bottles of 1915 Krug in the house’s cellars and a private visit to the estate has been sold for over US$116,000 at an auction in New York.

Held by Sotheby’s at the weekend, the 100-year old Champagne and a two-day “tasting experience” for four guests at Krug eventually went for $116,375.

The bidding began at $15,000 and then escalated quickly as buyers from Asia, Latin America, Europe and the US fought desperately to secure the rare lot.

The eventual buyer remains anonymous.

Jamie Ritchie, CEO of Sotheby’s Wine, Americas & Asia, added: “The opportunity to drink a 100 year old bottle of Krug that will never have left their cellars drew bidders from four continents demonstrating the extraordinary lengths Sotheby’s clients will go to pursue the world’s rarest wines and unique experiences.”

Olivier Krug, director of the house and sixth generation of the Krug family commented: “Today, to celebrate these last hundred years of the House of Krug, from 1915 to 2015, I am sincerely moved to be able to share an experience that is unique to our history at Krug. It was my wish to honour the memory of my great-grandmother, Jeanne Krug, and the role of the House of Krug during the terrible years of World War I so we created this experience in Reims to be a very personal one, an occasion to share the passion that is such an integral part of creating our Champagnes.”