Wine sale set to defy credit crunch

The credit crunch appears to be somewhat relative as auction-goers gear up to spend thousands of pounds on fine wine.

Bonhams has unveiled the lots in its first wine sale of the year, including claret from 1945.

The auction house in New Bond Street, central London, saw the amount of wine sold increase by 35% last year and will hold another six fine and rare wine sales in the next 12 months.

Lots in the sale on February 3 include various wines from Chateau Lafite Rothschild - a dozen from 1982 are expected to fetch £14,000, while 12 bottles from 1955 could go for up to £5,000.

There is also a rare La Tour Haut-Brion from 1945 - six bottles carry an estimated price tag of around £3,000.

The list of 724 lots includes six bottles of Romanee-Conti from 1983 for £9,600 to £10,800, and a dozen Cheval Blanc from 1990 for £6,000 to £8,000.

Head of Bonhams' wine department in Europe Richard Harvey said some have already been sold and interest in the auction is strong.

He said: "We sell to everyone from private buyers, restaurants and traders. We have a lot more overseas buyers now - the fall in the value of sterling suddenly makes it more appealing. People looked at it as a commodity when they had a lot more money. Generally the people who buy now are interested in wine - now is a good time for them because the prices have eased off a bit."

More than 100 vendors are involved in the forthcoming sale, mainly private individuals but also traders and companies clearing stock.

A second wine sale on March 17 is set to include a cellar from the Channel Islands, some of which was hidden during the German occupation in the Second World War.