Biography
Richard Young is Vice President, Global Head of Important Collections Strategy, Wine, and Head of Auction, Americas at Sotheby's. Based in New York, he advises many of the world's foremost wine collectors, estates, family offices, charitable organizations, and institutions on the acquisition, valuation, and sale of the finest and rarest wines.
With more than fifteen years of experience in the global fine wine market, Richard has established himself as one of the auction world's most trusted and accomplished specialists. Recognized as an industry leader, he is frequently called upon to advise collectors on collection strategy, market trends, valuation, and estate planning. His success in sourcing and presenting landmark collections, combined with a consistent track record of wine lots over $100,000 and record-setting results, has positioned him at the forefront of the international wine auction market. Throughout his career, he has secured highly competitive consignments, cultivated long-standing relationships with many of the world's most important collectors, and delivered exceptional outcomes across both auction and private sales.
Richard is particularly recognized for his ability to identify, cultivate, and win important collection opportunities, from historic private cellars and Château- and Domaine-direct offerings to prestigious charitable and institutional auctions. He has played a leading role in auctions and partnerships involving some of the wine world's most celebrated producers and organizations, while helping collectors achieve outstanding results for rare and significant wines.
At Sotheby's, Richard has led the sourcing, strategy, and presentation of many of the most important wine auctions and single-owner collections. Most recent highlights include Immortal Vintages | 200 Years of Bordeaux, KINETIC | The Wine Cellar of Joel Shapiro, LEGENDS | Six Decades of Collecting, LIMITLESS | The Colossal Cellar of an Astute Collector, The Colossal Cellar of an Astute Collector, and numerous flagship Finest & Rarest Wines auctions. These sales have featured some of the world's most extraordinary cellars and historic vintages, attracting global attention from the most important collectors.
Throughout his career, Richard has overseen the sale of many of the world's rarest and most sought-after wines and spirits, including legendary Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Italy, Madeira, California, and other benchmark collectibles. His expertise spans auction sales, collection strategy, valuation, private sales, authentication, provenance research, and cellar management.
In recent years, Richard has also become known for expanding wine collecting beyond traditional audiences through innovative partnerships and cross-category luxury initiatives, helping position fine wine alongside art, fashion, design, and other collectible categories.
Prior to joining Sotheby's, Richard spent more than seven years at Christie's, where he managed the sale of important private collections. Richard graduated from Cornell University, where he was awarded the Julius Wile Commanderie de Bordeaux aux États-Unis d'Amérique Bordeaux Education Prize and won the Clear Indexes LLC ETF Competition for his research on Bordeaux and weather futures. He is also a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers.
