NEW YORK, NY.- This September, Sotheby’s will launch the inaugural New York edition of NIGHTCAP, a new global Wine & Spirits festival celebrating the worlds of collecting, connoisseurship, gastronomy, and luxury. Taking place from 17–19 September at Sotheby’s global headquarters, The Breuer, the festival will bring together exceptional educational tasting experiences, exclusive collector dinners, and headline auctions in a dynamic format designed to engage both seasoned collectors and a new generation of enthusiasts.
Following its debut in Hong Kong earlier this year, NIGHTCAP marks the next chapter in Sotheby’s expanding global Wine & Spirits strategy. As one of the company’s most important wine hubs and home to its auction and retail businesses, New York provides the ideal stage for this flagship event, reflecting the continued strength, diversity, and international reach of Sotheby’s Wine & Spirits community.
The launch comes at a moment of significant momentum for the category, with Sotheby’s Wine & Spirits business welcoming a record number of bidders. More than one-third of wine and spirits bidders are new to Sotheby’s, while U.S. buyers continue to lead the market, representing 31% of total purchases. The next generation of collectors is also driving growth, with 51% of bidders now under the age of 50.
Across the week, NIGHTCAP will present the most significant wine and spirits auction series ever assembled in New York, featuring more than $7 million of exceptional wines and spirits across four dedicated auctions, alongside a curated program of experiences for leading collectors, producers, and enthusiasts.
More than a festival, NIGHTCAP represents a broader cultural moment that positions wine and spirits alongside art, design, and hospitality and brings together the people, stories, and craftsmanship that define the category. At its heart, wine and spirits are about shared experiences — exceptional bottles, meaningful conversations, and connections formed around a common passion. NIGHTCAP celebrates that culture on an elevated stage, creating new opportunities for discovery while deepening engagement with existing communities.
“We are delighted to inaugurate this exceptional week of auctions, exclusive dinners, and tasting in New York. These events are designed to bring together collectors, enthusiasts, but also consumers new to wine and spirits. They will offer a unique opportunity to connect, discover, and deepen one’s appreciation of the remarkable stories and craftsmanship behind every bottle. We look forward to expanding the experience to other major cities around the world in the years to come.” --- Victor Rabot, Head of Global Buying and Winery Relations at Sotheby’s Wine
Friday, 18 September
The NIGHTCAP Wine & Whisky Tasting
The Breuer | 6:00 PM
The NIGHTCAP Wine & Whisky Tasting is an immersive, walk-around experience inviting guests to discover and compare exceptional wines and whiskies from around the world.
Hosted in Sotheby’s iconic Breuer building, the evening will showcase approximately 40 wines and 20 whiskies. Through guided tastings, guests will explore a thoughtfully curated selection spanning both established icons and rising stars across key regions, including Pol Roger, Vega Sicilia, Chteau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, Jean-Louis Chave, Louis Roederer, Jean Marc Roulot, Pappy Van Winkle, among others.
Blending education with discovery, the event celebrates curiosity and connoisseurship in a dynamic festival setting. Guests will have the opportunity to taste a diverse range of bottles from around the world while testing their knowledge and palate through a dedicated blind tasting experience.
Auctions
During NIGHTCAP, Sotheby’s will present a comprehensive programme of four curated auctions spanning the week, each showcasing exceptional provenance, rarity, and collecting opportunities across the market. The series will unfold across dedicated sales moments, offering collectors multiple opportunities to engage throughout the festival. Among the highlights is The Impeccable Burgundy Collection: Part VI, a cornerstone sale anchoring the programme. Further details on the full auction schedule and individual sales will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Impeccable Burgundy Collection: Part VI
A cornerstone of the festival, The Impeccable Burgundy Collection: Part VI is the latest chapter in a remarkable single-owner wine collection. Building on the success of previous sales in New York and Hong Kong since the series debuted in 2023, this installment is the most significant to date.
Featuring more than 600 lots, the sale showcases one of the finest collections of Burgundy ever assembled. At its core is an extraordinary offering from Domaine de la Romane-Conti, including a magnum of the celebrated 1990 Romane-Conti (est. $42,000–60,000). The collection spans three centuries and includes historic wines from Bouchard Pre & Fils, highlighted by an 1865 La Romane (est. $80,000–120,000) acquired directly from the Bouchard cellars. Additional highlights include exceptional bottles from Domaine Leflaive, Domaine Leroy, Domaine des Lambrays, Ramonet, Raveneau, Rouget, Mo-Camuzet, Cathiard, and Faiveley, alongside a remarkable selection of Champagne from Dom Prignon, Krug, Salon, Philipponnat, and Taittinger.
Built over decades with an uncompromising focus on rarity, provenance, and condition, the collection is distinguished by its exceptional depth of back vintages, rare large-format bottles, and extensive verticals, many of which are rarely seen at auction.
A defining feature of the collection is its impeccable provenance. The wines were acquired through importer and distributor allocations, direct domaine and chteau sales, and renowned private collections including The Don Stott Cellar, The Cellar of William I. Koch, The Henry Tang Collection, Wines from Joseph Lau, and Dr. Ku's Apothecary Collection.
The live auction will take place at The Breuer on September 19, with bidding opening on August 28.
