The 1961 Dom Pérignon Vintage magnum is one of only 12 bottles specially made and labelled to commemorate the royal wedding that captivated hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. The exclusive bottle will be auctioned on 11 December at Bruun Rasmussen auction house in Copenhagen.
“Only 12 magnum bottles were made, and this is one of them,” said Thomas Rosendahl Andersen, wine expert at the Danish auction house. The bottle is expected to fetch close to R1,5 million.
According to Rosendahl, the rare champagne appeals to both wine enthusiasts and royal memorabilia collectors. Despite its age, the bottle remains suitable for consumption.
“You can absolutely drink it,” Rosendahl confirmed. “Every bottle of wine we sell at auction is examined and inspected. For something like this, we check many different things, including shining light through the bottle to ensure that the contents have a very nice and clear color, and are not brown and cloudy.”
The current owner, a private collector who wishes to remain anonymous, acquired the magnum from a London dealer.
Royal wedding champagne has had varying success at auction. While one magnum failed to find a buyer at a British auction in 2004, another bottle from the same collection sold for approximately R 205 395 four years later, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of the royal memorabilia market.
The upcoming Danish auction represents another opportunity for collectors to own a piece of royal history from one of the most watched weddings of the 20th century.
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