Christie’s is set to host a landmark wine auction in New York City, featuring 1,500 coveted lots from the personal cellar of billionaire collector and anti-fraud crusader William “Bill” Koch. With a low estimate of $15 million, the three-day live event, beginning June 12, marks Christie’s return to in-person wine auctions in the city and showcases one of the most meticulously curated private wine collections in the world.
Drawn from Koch’s residences in Palm Beach, Cape Cod, and Aspen, the collection includes 750 large-format bottles and vintages from the world’s most prestigious producers. The auction opens with 48 lots of Champagne from Krug, Salon, and Dom Pérignon. Over the following days, bidders can vie for highly prized Napa Valley wines, including Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, and Hundred Acre, along with treasures from Europe’s top appellations. The catalog includes 295 lots from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, 363 from other esteemed Burgundy producers such as Dujac and Coche-Dury, and 607 Bordeaux selections including Château Margaux, Petrus, Lafite Rothschild, and Cos d’Estournel.
Koch, who began his wine journey with Portuguese rosé in the 1960s, has spent decades cultivating a cellar that once totaled 40,000 bottles. He previously sold half in a 2016 auction. Now, with 20,000 bottles remaining, he is offering another segment to the public, emphasizing his desire for others to enjoy them: “These bottles are like old friends,” Koch said. “My hope is that wine enthusiasts will drink them with their family and friends.”
The upcoming sale carries an added layer of prestige due to Koch’s well-known stance against wine fraud. His scrutiny of provenance and authentication has influenced industry standards. Every bottle in the auction has been thoroughly vetted—some even subjected to nuclear spectrography. Christie’s also removed any bottle that didn’t meet strict quality criteria. Koch’s efforts helped expose major wine fraudsters, including Rudy Kurniawan and Hardy Rodenstock, significantly reshaping the global wine market.
In a notable anecdote, Koch recalled celebrating the conviction of Kurniawan in 2013 by comparing the fraudster’s wines side-by-side with the genuine articles at a dinner with FBI agents and expert witnesses. “Kurniawan’s La Chapelle was the closest he got to a match, but it still fell short,” Koch noted.
Despite his prominence in the wine world, Koch rarely met producers in person until after his legal battles. His visit to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and his discussions with the team at Petrus came only after fraud investigations brought him closer to the source. Koch maintains a collection of faxes from Rodenstock, sent when Petrus denied ever producing the large-format bottles the fraudster claimed were authentic.
Christie’s wine director Paul Tortora highlighted Koch’s fondness for large-format bottles and entertaining. Many of the bottles on offer were served at dinners with politicians, celebrities, and athletes, including the late Senator Ted Kennedy and NBA Hall-of-Famer John Havlicek.
Among the standout bottles previewed ahead of the auction was a magnum of 1989 Joseph Drouhin Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche, praised for its vivid aromas and freshness. Estimated at $600, it contrasts with the sale’s crown jewel: a Methuselah of 1999 Romanée-Conti expected to fetch up to $150,000.
Tortora emphasized that while the auction includes many rare collector’s items, it also offers exceptional value. One highlight, a bottle of 1990 Cos d’Estournel, is listed with a low estimate of $150—less than the price of the current release. “At 35 years, it’s drinking beautifully,” Tortora said, noting that the sale offers something for every type of buyer, from seasoned collectors to casual enthusiasts seeking ready-to-drink vintages.
The collection also includes 34 lots of Château d’Yquem, which Koch stores near the entrance of his Palm Beach cellar for easy access at the end of a meal. “Collecting these wines has been a labor of love,” he said. “I hope whoever buys them enjoys them as much as I have.”
Christie’s sale of Koch’s collection offers a rare glimpse into the world of a legendary collector and represents a singular opportunity for buyers to acquire some of the finest wines ever produced—each bottle backed by rigorous authentication and decades of passion.
You Might Be Interested In:
