Fine wine news

US wine auction house Spectrum Wine Auctions has teamed up with UK wine merchant Vanquish to host a "brisk" sale in London, the first of its kind.

It is being billed as a social evening that will be fresh and fun and is largely targeted at Hong Kong buyers in the capital, with just 177 lots.

Speaking to Decanter.com, Richard Brierley, head of fine wine for Vanquish, said: "The pace will be brisk and lively – the sale should take two, two-and a-half hours.

"It's meant to be a social occasion, something people can pop into on their way home or stay for an hour to bid on what they want, and then out for supper."

Included in the sale are a number of Burgundy wines, with a total pre-sale estimate of £1.5 million, as well as a range of Bordeaux.

They include an imperial of Lafite Rothschild 1982, which carries a £15,000 estimate, and six magnums of Haut-Brion 1945 and Mouton Rothschild 1949 (with estimates of £32,500 and £25,000 respectively).

In addition, the profits of the Champagne lots will be given to a UK-based charity.

Posted by Helen Jenkins