Can anybody guess the price of the most expensive American wine ever sold?
Story below 🍷
Story below 🍷
1/ Answer: $500,000 for a bottle of Screaming Eagle 🦅
Made by a female winemaker (extremely rare in this industry).
The story of how this wine went from $100 a bottle to $500,000 is incredible.
Made by a female winemaker (extremely rare in this industry).
The story of how this wine went from $100 a bottle to $500,000 is incredible.
2/ Our story starts with Jean Phillips.
She leaves behind a successful career in real estate in 1986
And buys 57 acres of land in Oakville, Napa Valley
It had a vineyard, but it was a mess.
She names it Screaming Eagle.
She leaves behind a successful career in real estate in 1986
And buys 57 acres of land in Oakville, Napa Valley
It had a vineyard, but it was a mess.
She names it Screaming Eagle.
3/ Phillips had never run a winery before.
She had only made wine in plastic trash cans at home.
She ends up selling most of her grapes to local wineries.
However, she keeps 1 acre of Cabernet Sauvignon for herself.
She had only made wine in plastic trash cans at home.
She ends up selling most of her grapes to local wineries.
However, she keeps 1 acre of Cabernet Sauvignon for herself.
4/ Phillips had a vision for those grapes 🍇
After talking with many consultants, Phillips hires a relatively unknown winemaker.
26 year old Heidi Peterson Barrett
After talking with many consultants, Phillips hires a relatively unknown winemaker.
26 year old Heidi Peterson Barrett
5/ Hiring Heidi Peterson Barrett was like drafting LeBron before he was LeBron.
She’s now responsible for cult wines at multiple wineries.
She’s even been dubbed “The First Lady of Wine.”
She’s now responsible for cult wines at multiple wineries.
She’s even been dubbed “The First Lady of Wine.”
6/ Barrett made Screaming Eagle’s first commercial wine in 1992.
She only used Phillip’s 1 acre of Cabernet Sauvignon.
And only made 200 cases.
She only used Phillip’s 1 acre of Cabernet Sauvignon.
And only made 200 cases.
7/ Fast-forward 3 years later.
Legendary wine critic Robert Parker comes to Screaming Eagle.
He tries the Cabernet Sauvignon and….. loves it!
He gives it a 99 out of 100.
Legendary wine critic Robert Parker comes to Screaming Eagle.
He tries the Cabernet Sauvignon and….. loves it!
He gives it a 99 out of 100.
8/ Overnight, Screaming Eagle gains cult status.
Everyone wants a taste of this previously unheralded wine..
The problem: there are only 200 cases.
Prices start to climb 📈
Everyone wants a taste of this previously unheralded wine..
The problem: there are only 200 cases.
Prices start to climb 📈
9/ Fast-forward to a Napa Valley auction in 2000.
Demand is sky high..
When Screaming Eagles 1992 Cab is up, people go crazy.
Reportedly, former Cisco System exec Chase Bailey bids the highest: $500,000.
Demand is sky high..
When Screaming Eagles 1992 Cab is up, people go crazy.
Reportedly, former Cisco System exec Chase Bailey bids the highest: $500,000.
10/ $500,000 might seem exorbitant, but it’s not an accident.
Screaming Eagle did everything right:
Quality grapes
Strong critical praise
High demand
Low supply
A perfect storm for the most expensive US wine ever sold.
Screaming Eagle did everything right:
Quality grapes
Strong critical praise
High demand
Low supply
A perfect storm for the most expensive US wine ever sold.
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