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A rare bottle of Groot Constancia 1821 was sold at the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction on 22 May for the equivalent of around 18,400 euros. The sweet wine, originally intended for Napoleon Bonaparte, who was living in exile, exceeded its estimated value by a factor of four at the auction conducted by Christie's. The South African wine estate Groot Constantia near Cape Town is one of the oldest still existing in the world and already had a good reputation before Napoelon's time. George Washington and Marie Antoinette were among the lovers of the raisin-like essence. A large part of the 1821 harvest was destined for Napoleon, who was interned on St Helena. His death in the same year brought the wine back to the estate. This bottle - one of a dozen still in existence - was re-corked in 2019 and has now been bought at auction by a British customer.
(al / Photo: wikipedia - martinvl)