Wine auctioned for 5000 euros: "This bottle is a symbol"

Mr. Ehmke, you bought a bottle of wine for 5000 euros plus 950 euros VAT.

Why so much money for a bottle?

Othmara glass

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Bremen has a long wine trading tradition.

We bought the bottle as the Hanseatische Weinhandelsgesellschaft Bremen to show respect for craftsmanship.

In 100 years the product has only lost one centimeter of fill level.

This shows the optimal storage conditions in the Bremen Ratskeller six meters below the Bremen market square.

It was also an opportunity for us to support the Bremen World Heritage City Hall and Roland, where the proceeds from the auction go.

We also see the bottle as a symbol of quality for the entire portfolio, as we as a company have attached great importance to quality since 1974.

Have you opened the bottle yet?

No, the handover has not yet taken place.

It is expected to be in July, when the corona rules are looser.

There is also no plan to drink the wine - unless there is an exceptional occasion.

Where will you store the bottle?

As an importer for whiskeys and wines, we have our own refrigerated wine cellar, where we store particularly high-quality products.

So the bottle is not on display?

We also see the bottle as a symbol of independence.

As in Bremen, as a family company, we attach particular importance to this.

As Hanseatic people, we think long-term, and the bottle reflects our quality and durability standards.

So actually the bottle is not locked away, but is a living example of what quality can bring.

It is an extreme privilege to honor a product that was produced in 1921 and is still drinkable and edible, as the Ratskellermeister says.

Is this the most expensive wine in your collection?

Difficult to say, given today's market prices.

But it is at least one of the oldest wines.

My grandfather and father, who founded the company, still own a Rüdesheimer Apostel wine from 1727. The bottle from 1921 is certainly worth more than 5000 euros, because there are fans of German Riesling in particular who are willing to also invest as a collector.

But the bottle is not for sale.

What is so special about the 1921 vintage?

1921 and 1959 are the wine vintages in the 20th century at all.

This is due to the exceptional weather conditions.

Of course, the winemaker also has a large share, but especially with the natural product wine, the climate plays a major role in how the vines develop.

And Nierstein Pettenthal in Rheinhessen is still one of the best locations ever.

That is one of the decisive factors for the quality of this wine.

What is the attraction of collecting wine for you?

Actually, we collect less because we are merchants.

But over the years we have always put bottles back that have a certain foreign value so that we can reflect the quality.

In the wine and whiskey sector, bottles are auctioned for several thousand euros.

This is attractive for collectors.

But actually we think that bottles are there to be enjoyed in good company.

Important: There are excellent wines in every price segment.

Do you have the impression that interest in wine has grown in Germany over the past few years?

Yes, in the short term, of course, due to the Corona crisis.

But also in general, people deal more with the products they consume through topics such as healthy eating.

That is, if you enjoy yourself, you will be more concerned with it.

In Germany we are encountering a growing interest in facts about wine.

Do you have a favorite wine?

That depends on the occasion - the menu and the season are decisive here.

In summer, white wines such as Riesling or Chardonnay are suitable, and in the cold season, wines from the regions of Burgundy, Bordeaux or Rhône are more suitable.