10 Oct September Post-Auction and Market Report

In September 2025, we hosted three online wine auctions:

• Early Spring Rare & Fine Wine Auction (3 – 7 September)
• September Spring Clean (17 – 21 September)
• Single Vendor ‘Her Vintage Selection’ Auction (24 – 29 September)

PLUS were able to offer LIVE online bidding for the legendary Hawkes Bay Wine Auction which raised $370,000 for Cranford Hospice, a record setting amount.

These closed on a total of 491 bottles across 339 lots (not including Charity Auction Sales)

Please note: as of our Single Vendor Auction we’ve adjusted our Online Auction schedule slightly and these now run from 11am Wednesday through to 8pm the following Monday. Our Live Auction schedule is unaffected and these will still be hosted at 6pm Tuesday with the next Live Auction being on 4 December. 

Top Sellers

Our top five sales for September 2025 were:

• 2008 Chateau Lafleur Pomeron ($1057.50)
• 1996 Domaine Jean Grivot Echezeaux Grand Cru ($822.50)
• 2013 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia x2 ($1410 or $705 per bottle)
• 1996 Chateau d’Yquem ($681.50)
• 1993 Chateau Cheval Blanc x4 ($2585 or $646.25 per bottle)

New Zealand

New Zealand wines represented 37% of our sales with our top sellers being bottlings from high-flyers Destiny Bay and Bell Hill with four lots closing between $375 and $425 per 750ml bottle. Over 40% of our New Zealand sales sold at $100 or over, with an extremely diverse selection of these wines selling at this price point including Chardonnay from Kumeu River and Pyramid Valley; Syrah from Man ‘O War and Trinity Hill; Pinot Noir from Martinborough, Marlborough, Central Otago and Canterbury; and Bordeaux blends from no fewer than eight producers (Destiny Bay, Providence of Matakana, Puriri Hills, Sacred Hill, Stonyridge, Te Mata, Te Motu and Villa Maria).

Australia

Our top three sales were all various vintages of Penfolds Grange, 2006 selling for $634.50 per bottle and 2001 and 2005 selling for $587.50. We also saw good sales results for wines from Torbrek, Two Hands and a 1994 bottle of Jim Barry Armagh. 

France

French wine sales made up about 27% of our volume; and continuing a trend in recent months the sales of French wine remain diverse. While Bordeaux and Burgundy still get significant attention as they did in our top 5 overall sales; our top 20 French sales (all over $200 per bottle) also included wines from Chablis, the Rhone, Champagne and even the Jura.

Other Wines

We also saw good sales for Vega Sicilia Unico (previously mentioned in our top sales) alongside Pintia (the Vega Sicilia bottling from Toro) as well as super-tuscans like Ornellaia and several Barolo bottlings. There was also good interest in Califormania Pinot as well as a bottle of 1994 Gallo of Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon which sold for 20% over our high estimate. 

Spirits, Liqueurs and Fortifieds

The highlight of these sales was a bottle of 1990 Frapin Millesime 30 Year Old Cognac which sold for $364.25 plus we also had food sales for bottlings from Graham’s (including 1968 and 1977 vintage wines and Quinta de Vesuvio).

Market Climate

Internationally, Wine Market Journal is reporting that “First and Second Growth Bordeaux as well as Port are up approximately 10% since the beginning of the year” in addition to continued growth for Italian Wines, Prestige Cuvee Champagne, DRC and White Burgundy.

Here in New Zealand we are still seeing good prices for highly collectable Pinot Noir (and other) from the likes of Bell Hill as well as aged Felton Road, with great vintages continuing to sell over estimate. Likewise, we are also seeing good prices for reliable “super-seconds” like Te Mata Awatea, with two bottles of 2006 selling at $94 each – almost double the current retail price delivering a good return to the seller. 

Takeaways and Investment Advice

• While the market is still tight the number of NZ wines selling over the $100 mark is growing consistently with a huge range of wines, styles and producers now firmly in this category; 
• If you’re an investor, Italy and Champagne are still performing well (we have a good range of Prestige Champagne in our current October Auction and there is already significant interest in many wines) but it looks like the more traditional ‘blue chip’ Bordeaux and Port wines are having a bounce back;
• If you’re looking to sell, there is still lots of interest in better value bottlings from good producers, especially if they are well-cellared and ready to drink. 

Please note, unless specified all prices are for 750ml equivalent bottles and include buyer premium. Retail prices, where quoted come from The Real Review.