Acker Merrall & Condit bags $3.49m in NY wine auction

Acker Merrall & Condit, world’s largest rare wine auction house, has received $3.49m from auctioning.

Acker Merrall & Condit CEO John Kapon said the market for fine and rare wine continues to gain strength as seasoned collectors and first time buyers recognize the potential of fine wine as both a significant investment opportunity and a source of great personal pleasure.

"The success of our April auction confirmed these facts once again and reaffirmed New York's position as one of the world's most important auction centers," Kapon added.

"Looking ahead, 2011 is on track to be another record breaking year, with several exciting auction events, including the historic sale of two of the world's oldest and rarest bottles of champagne, circa 1840, recovered from a shipwreck off the Åland Islands of Finland."

The recent even that was held at New York City's acclaimed Al Fiori restaurant, totaled 829 lots. A 60-magnum collection of the 1996 Krug Vintage Champagne took the top position, selling for $48,800.

Burgundy continued it long run of desirability, taking three out of the top five positions, with a six-magnum collection of 1978 Roumier Bonnes Mares achieving $36,600.

A 12-bottle assortment of 1999 Domaine de la Romanée Conti shared the third position with a 12-bottle collection of 2000 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, both achieving $34,160.

A five-magnum lot of the fabled 1961 Comte de Vogue Musigny rounded out the top five, selling for $29,280.

Additionally the list also includes a three-bottle case of 2004 Romanee-Conti that sold for $24,400, 12 bottles of 1986 Chateau Lafite Rothschild at $24,400, and 12 bottles of 1996 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, which brought $23,180.

In an historic live auction on June 3rd, Acker Merrall will auction two of the oldest and rarest bottles of wine in the world - Champagnes recovered in 2010 from a 19th century shipwreck off the Åland Islands of Finland.