Although I have never been the biggest drinker, a recent trip to Napa Valley sparked my interest in the centuries-old delicacy. Since, I learned that there is more to wine than the 2-buck Chuck frat boys buy at Von's. I've also learned that wine fanatics spend a lot of  time, energy, and money in the name of wine.  In the 1980s, billionaire Malcolm Forbes paid approximately $155,000 at auction for a bottle of Chateau Lafite. The wine, which came from Thomas Jefferson's own collection and dated back to 1787, was then put on display under strong lights and at the wrong angle. These conditions, not conducive to storing wine, eventually made the cork fall into the bottle. The Chateau Lafite lost its value and was thrown away.
Discovering this anecdote, I sought out to uncover some of the most expensive wines available on the market. 

$275,000 – Shipwrecked 1907 Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Champagne

$114,614 – 1945 Château Mouton-Rothschild

$80,000 – 1992 Screaming Eagle

$33,781 – 1947 Cheval Blanc

$24,675 – 1941 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

$23,929 – 1978 Montrachet Domaine de la Romanée Conti