ONE YEAR AFTER HE RESIGNED FROM SOCCER, ALEX FERGUSON SAYS GOOD BYE TO HIS HUGE WINE COLLECTION. THE FIRST PART, AUCTIONED BY CHRISTIE’S IN HONG KONG, SOLD FOR ALMOST 4 MILLION EUROS. THE TOP SELLERS, OF COURSE, WERE ROMANÉE-CONTI AND SASSICAIA

A year after he resigned from soccer, Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful coach in the history of the Red Devils, the reds of Manchester, who gave them 38 trophies in 26 years, also said farewell to his enormous cellar, which was auctioned by Christie's in Hong Kong.

It was a great success, as famous wine collectors along with fans of Sir Alex, got together and in one evening, the first part of his immense collection was sold for 3 million and 799.000 US Dollars.

“It was a special auction”, David Elswood head of the wine department at Christie's told Wine Searcher (www.wine-searcher.com), “that attracted fine wine collectors and fans of the Manchester United former coach. As often happens, the wines of Burgundy, starting with the wines of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti dominated the auction. “The most expensive lot was a six liter 1997 Romanée-Conti accompanied by a statement signed by Sir Alex himself, which sold for 158 thousand 760 US dollars, well above its rating at 129 thousand US dollars. Among the 257 lots, the hardest fought for were 6 bottles of Romanée-Conti 1999 sold together with a signed Manchester United jersey of the final 1999 Champions League game, one of the most epic, which the Red Devils won in overtime against the Germans of Bayern Munich.

Alex Ferguson’s passion for wine started during a trip to Montpellier in 1991, and has grown over the years. The second part of his collection will be auctioned on June 5th in London, while the third part will be on sale online from June 9th to 23rd .
Among the wines auctioned from Sir Alex’s cellar, there were many bottles of Sassicaia, vintages 2004 to 2010. The 24 bottle lot of Sassicaia 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2010 sold for 4 thousand 761 US dollars each . An imperial 2005 Sassicaia sold for 2 thousand 539 euros, while the lot of 3 double magnums 2005 Sassicaia sold for three thousand and fifteen US dollars.