Edition of October 13, 2026

Haut-Brion cellar auction reaches €3.4m

At a Sotheby’s auction in Paris on Oct. 1, Haut-Brion cellar wines spanning 90 years of Dillon family stewardship sold for €3.4 million, according to Decanter. A 5-liter 1989 sold for €62,500, while a magnum of 1935 fetched €8,750.

The sale provides a concrete market result for mature Bordeaux with direct estate provenance, including rare vintages and formats.

Source: Decanter Château Haut-Brion The Fine Wine MarketThe Vintage

What is the future for Bordeaux wine?

The future of Bordeaux wine is in question.

The question arrives as Bordeaux confronts changing demand, falling sales and a continuing debate over how the region should adapt.

Source: Financial Times Vineyard and Cellar

Liber Pater’s 27-liter bottle could fetch $1.15m

Liber Pater will hold its first ex-cellar auction in Hong Kong on Nov. 21, offering 20 lots led by a 27-liter 2019 bottle estimated at up to $1.15 million.

The potential price makes this large format bottle a conspicuous test at the top end of the Bordeaux fine wine market.

Source: Vino Joy News The Fine Wine MarketTrade and Tariffs

Bordeaux harvests more wine from fewer vineyards

A separate report says Bordeaux produced more wine in 2026 despite a reduction in vineyard area.

Higher output alongside a smaller planted area sharpens the distinction between annual harvest volume and Bordeaux’s longer-term structural contraction.

Source: Revista Adega The Vintage

Saint-Émilion classified growths open for harvest festival

The Association des Grands crus classés de Saint-Émilion is holding its fourth Fête des vendanges on Oct. 10 and 11, opening classified estates to wine, cultural and gastronomic experiences.

The collective initiative uses access to classified estates and their terroirs to strengthen Saint-Émilion’s visitor appeal.

Source: Sud Ouest Saint-Émilion Visiting BordeauxThe Vintage

Gironde distributor retrains staff as vineyards shrink

Gironde distributor EVV is using the APLD-Rebond program to train its 106 employees, develop work beyond viticulture and revise its distribution model across 15 stores.

The response shows how vineyard uprooting and falling revenue are affecting the businesses that supply Bordeaux growers, not only the estates themselves.

Source: Vitisphere The CrisisVineyard and Cellar

Bordeaux’s 2026 harvest forecast rises 10%

Bordeaux’s 2026 wine harvest is forecast at 3.496 million hectoliters, up 10% from 2025 but 11% below the region’s 2021 to 2025 average, according to Vinetur.

The comparison with a weak previous year is essential context for interpreting the increase and the developing 2026 vintage narrative.

Source: Vinetur The Vintage

Restaurants host Cheese and Bordeaux Wine Week

Cheese and Bordeaux Wine Week will run across France from Nov. 1 to 15, 2026, bringing wine and cheese pairings to more than 500 partner establishments, with 37 Bordeaux AOP and 12 cuvées featured.

The promotion places Bordeaux in an accessible restaurant setting built around food pairing rather than classification or prestige.

Source: Le Figaro Vin Visiting BordeauxRules and Classifications