An Historic Treasure: Pound-Wise Investment

The Rieslings from Hochheim were some of the most expensive and sought-after wines in the world in the 18th and 19th centuries. At Christie’s in 1808, 12 bottles of “hock” sold for 10 British pounds, which was the highest price paid for any wine between 1766 and 1880 (114 years). In 1890 a case of Chateau Lafitte was selling for 40 shillings, while a case of Bernkasteler Doktor was selling for 63 shillings.