News — Fine Wine Investment

Christie’s expects the sale to realize at least HK$26 million, or about US$3.31 million. The auction opens the house’s 60th-anniversary celebrations for its Wines and Spirits department, nearly six decades after Christie’s held its first wine auction in London in 1966.

Château Margaux has appointed Aurélien Valance as managing director, with the transition set to take place at the end of 2026. Valance currently serves as deputy managing director for sales and operations at the first-growth Bordeaux estate. He will succeed long-serving Managing Director Philippe Bascaules, who is stepping down and retiring at the end of 2026 after more than three decades associated with the estate, but will stay on as a consultant for key technical periods like harvesting, winemaking, and blending.

Lalou Bize-Leroy has been named the recipient of Decanter’s 2026 Hall of Fame award. The Burgundy pioneer founded Domaines Leroy and d’Auvenay and has also served as co-director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

The Old Vine Registry has launched the OVR Seal, a global program allowing producers to identify wines made from registered old-vine vineyards on labels, websites, and other marketing materials. The initiative was announced on October 1, 2026.