Romanée-Conti

Romanée-Conti is an approximately 1.8-hectare Grand Cru vineyard in the village of Vosne-Romanée in Burgundy, France, as well as the name of the wine produced there.

It is solely owned as a monopole by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) and is regarded as one of the rarest and most expensive wines in the world.

1. Historical Background

• Origins: Its reputation began to develop in the 13th century, when monks from the Abbey of Saint-Vivant managed the vineyard.

• Origin of the name: In 1760, following a contest with Madame de Pompadour, a favorite of King Louis XV of France, Louis François de Bourbon, Prince de Conti, purchased the vineyard, and it came to bear his title.

• Modern era: Since 1942, it has been jointly owned and managed by the De Villaine and Leroy families.

2. Terroir and Viticultural Characteristics

• Area and location: It covers approximately 1.81 hectares (about 5,500 pyeong) and consists of well-drained calcareous clay soil.

• Viticultural practices: Organic and biodynamic farming methods that do not use chemical fertilizers are strictly maintained.

• Yield restrictions: Yields are kept extremely low to maintain quality, with each vine producing only enough wine for approximately three glasses.

3. Production and Rarity

• Annual production: Although it varies according to the harvest, only about 5,000 to 6,000 bottles are produced annually on average.

• Sales method: Rather than being sold as individual bottles, it is often sold in assortment cases with wines from other Grand Cru vineyards owned by DRC, making it extremely difficult to obtain.

• Variety: It is made from 100% Pinot Noir.

4. Prominence

• Auction record: At a Sotheby’s auction in New York in 2018, a bottle of the 1945 vintage sold for approximately US$558,000 (more than 600 million won at the time), setting a record as the world’s most expensive wine.

• Assessment: Described as the “wine of kings” or “a wine that can only be drunk with God’s permission,” it is regarded as the pinnacle of Burgundy wine.