![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1" height="1280px" width="1920px"></svg>)
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti: The Essential Guide
Discover the history, vineyards and legendary wines of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Burgundy’s most celebrated producer of Grand Cru wines.
T here’s something exhilarating about selling a great bottle of wine as a sommelier. No one can predict exactly what a bottle will taste like. Will the wine be good? Will it taste as the expert described? There’s an element of risk involved, and these questions hold more weight for wines priced well into the thousands of dollars. When the gamble pays off, it does so big-time and the wine is even better than anyone could have imagined. No wine is more consistently excellent than those of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
Key Takeaways: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Iconic Burgundy Producer: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) is widely regarded as Burgundy’s most prestigious estate, producing wines almost exclusively from Grand Cru vineyards.
Historic Estate: The Domaine traces its origins to the 13th century and today owns or leases some of the most celebrated vineyard sites in Vosne-Romanée.
Grand Cru Focus: DRC controls significant holdings across Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Grands Échézeaux, Échézeaux, Corton, Montrachet and Corton-Charlemagne.
Extremely Limited Production: Annual output from many vineyards is very small, with flagship wines such as Romanée-Conti producing roughly 5,000–6,000 bottles per year.
Distinct Vineyard Identities: Each cuvée expresses a unique terroir profile, ranging from the power and structure of Richebourg to the ethereal delicacy of Romanée-Saint-Vivant.
Auction Market Dominance: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti remains one of the most significant producers in global wine auctions, consistently achieving record prices and strong demand among collectors.
Collector Demand: Mature vintages, large formats and pristine provenance examples are especially sought after by collectors worldwide.
Secondary Market: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines consistently command strong demand in the secondary market due to their rarity, provenance and reputation as some of Burgundy’s most collectible wines.
The History of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
It’s fitting that the Domaine’s history, which dates to 1232, involves a prominent bidding war, given its central importance to the wine-auction market today. In 1760 the vineyard, then called La Romanée, was purchased by Louis François, the Bourbon Prince of Conti, who affixed his title to the locale, henceforth known as Romanée-Conti.
After the French Revolution, the Domaine changed hands a number of times. Following its purchase by the Duvault-Blochet family in 1869, the Domaine took on its more modern form. The family added Echézeaux, Grands Echézeaux and Richebourg to the formidable estate, which already included the famed monopole La Tâche. Holdings in Romanée Saint-Vivant and Montrachet came later, along with two leases on the hill of Corton in the 21st century.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Wine Atlas | Quintessential Burgundy, Bordeaux, Italy & Napa
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in the Modern Era
Today these holdings make Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (or DRC, as it’s often abbreviated) the largest domaine in terms of grand cru vineyard ownership in Burgundy. Moreover, they are unique for producing wine almost exclusively from grand cru sites – a special classification bestowed on vineyards of great reputation and the highest designation awarded by the appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) to terroir in Burgundy.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in the Auction Market
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti continues to be one of the most important producers in terms of global auction sales, impressing both in terms of volume sold and prices achieved.
In 2025 Burgundy continued its dominance as the single biggest region, accounting for 39% of Sotheby's wine auction sales. Of this Domaine de la Romanée-Conti alone accounted for a remarkable 17%. It also accounted for the most expensive lot sold any auction house for the year - 12 bottles of Romanée Conti 1990 sold in Hong Kong for $449,890. Below we set out the top 10 producers (by USD sales). The full Sotheby's Wine & Spirits Report 2025 can be found here.
A Tasting of the Cuvées of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Even in infancy the wines possess very distinct identities. Of course, there are stylistic elements uniting them all: the 100 percent new-oak treatment, the stem inclusion (for reds) and the inimitable intensity of fruit (the result of miniscule yields, rigorous grape selection and organic farming). Yet there is a transparency to these wines – a trueness to terroir, which allows the inherent characteristics of each cuvée to present themselves year after year.
A Taxonomy of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Cuvees
Below are of some of these characteristics based on historical reputation and my tastings by Sotheby’s experts. There is no substitute for experiencing these wines firsthand. If you are fortunate enough to taste them, our advice is simple: drink them young, drink them old and drink them anywhere in between.
Romaneé-Conti
A monopole of DRC, this 1.81-hectare plot is the most celebrated grand cru vineyard in all of Burgundy, producing between 5,000–6,000 bottles annually of the Domaine’s flagship wine. It is intense and brooding with stunning complexity, a silky mouthfeel and profound length.
La Tâche
The largest parcel in size and output, the 6.06-hectare La Tâche produces about 20,000 bottles annually. Located south of Romanée-Conti, it is the Domaine’s second monopole. The vineyard makes a stunningly aromatic wine, displaying an intoxicating bouquet of violets and exotic spice. It is typically more accessible in its youth than the Romanée-Conti.
Richebourg
Located north of Romanée-Conti, Richebourg is considered the best non-monopole grand cru of the Vosne-Romanée commune in Burgundy – and DRC is its largest landholder, producing about 12,000 bottles a year on its 3.51-hectare plot. Thought to be the most muscular of the DRC wines, it possesses firm tannins and structure built to age.
Romanée St. Vivant
Leased by DRC since 1966, these vines were sold to the Domaine in 1988 by the Marey-Monge family, making DRC the vineyard’s largest landholder at 5.29 hectares. The 18,000 annual bottles of this wine are the most ethereal of the lineup, with a delicacy and weightlessness on the palate and a profoundly floral bouquet.
Grands Echézeaux
Sitting southwest of Clos Vougeot, this relatively flat vineyard produces broader and richer wines than its much larger neighbor, Echézeaux. With 3.53 hectares, DRC is the largest landowner of this vineyard as well, producing a wine that is often darker-fruited and earthier than the others. About 14,000 bottles are made each year.
Echézeaux
One of the largest grands crus in Burgundy, this vineyard surrounds Grands Echézeaux to the north and south. DRC is yet again the largest landowner (at 4.67 hectares) and its holdings are north of Grands Echézeaux in a section of the vineyard known as Les Poulaillères, or “the chicken coops.” Generally lighter-bodied than the Grands Echézeaux, it displays a similar gaminess and bramble-fruit quality. Annual production is about 16,000 bottles.
Corton
With its inaugural vintage in 2009, the Corton is the newest red addition to the DRC lineup. Leased from Domaine Prince Florent de Merode, the 2.28-hectare growth sources its fruit from famed lieux-dits Clos du Roi, Bressandes and Renardes. It produces about 6,500 bottles annually, and is concentrated and well-structured red with tremendous aging potential.
Montrachet
At 0.68 hectares and about 3,000 bottles a year, Montrachet is the Domaine’s smallest in terms of production – and was the only white wine released by the Domaine before Corton-Charlemagne in 2019. Unmistakably complex, it is a decadent and textural wine of tremendous length, power and counterbalancing acidity.
Corton-Charlemagne
The most recent addition to the DRC lineup, the Corton-Charlemagne made its debut in 2019. The vines on this 2.9-hecrare plot are leased from Bonneau du Martray and offer a fresher and chiseled expression of Chardonnay in contrast to the opulence of the Domaine’s Montrachet.
Frequently Asked Questions About Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Why is Domaine de la Romanée-Conti considered so prestigious?
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti produces wines almost exclusively from Grand Cru vineyards in Burgundy. Combined with extremely small production volumes and meticulous vineyard management, this has established the Domaine as one of the most respected producers in the world.
How many vineyards does Domaine de la Romanée-Conti produce wine from?
The Domaine produces wines from several Grand Cru vineyards including Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant, Grands Échézeaux, Échézeaux, Corton, Montrachet and Corton-Charlemagne.
What is the most famous wine produced by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti?
Romanée-Conti itself is the estate’s flagship wine. Produced from a 1.81-hectare monopole vineyard, it is one of the rarest and most sought-after wines in the world.
How limited are Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines?
Production levels are extremely small. Romanée-Conti typically produces only around 5,000 to 6,000 bottles annually, while other cuvées may range from roughly 12,000 to 20,000 bottles depending on the vineyard.
Why do collectors value Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines so highly?
Collectors value these wines due to their rarity, exceptional terroir, consistent critical acclaim and long aging potential. Mature vintages from strong years are particularly sought after.
Do Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines age well?
Yes. Many DRC wines can evolve for decades in the cellar, developing extraordinary complexity while maintaining structure and freshness.
Which DRC wines are typically the most expensive?
Romanée-Conti tends to achieve the highest prices, followed by La Tâche and rare large-format bottlings of top vintages.
Buy and Sell Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Wine with Sotheby’s
Whether you are building a cellar or preparing to consign mature vintages, Sotheby’s offers a trusted, seamless way to buy and sell Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines on the secondary market.
Why Choose Sotheby’s?
- Expertly Vetted Selection
Explore the world of rare and collectible Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines, from celebrated Grand Cru vineyards such as Romanée-Conti and La Tâche to highly sought-after cuvées including Richebourg, Romanée-Saint-Vivant and Montrachet. - Exclusive Global Access
Access Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines through auctions, supported by Sotheby’s international network of buyers and consignors. - Flexible Ways to Buy
Bid at auction, purchase Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines online through our New York and Hong Kong retail sites or in person at our retail locations in New York and Hong Kong. - Exceptional Value
Every Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wine is authenticated and priced by Sotheby’s specialists to reflect true market value. - Constantly Evolving Inventory
Discover Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines across a range of wintages and formats, with new selections added regularly, available exclusively through Sotheby’s Wine.
Ready to Get Started?
- Browse upcoming Sotheby's wine auctions in New York and Hong Kong
- Shop Sotheby's New York and Hong Kong retail sites for instant access to available inventory
- Speak with a Sotheby's wine specialist to consign or request a valuation for a Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wine
Trust Sotheby’s worldwide network of leading wine specialists from a globally renowned auction house established in 1744.
