The first Hong Kong wine sales of Sotheby’s, The Andrew Lloyd Webber Wine Collection, was another white-glove one (100% sold) raising $5.6 million which far exceeded the high estimate $2.8 – $4.1 million. The 6-hour sale is now Sotheby’s Hong Kong twelfth consecutive 100%-sold wine auction in Asia in the last 21 months. The saleroom was filled to capacity with spirited and jovial bidding from all over Asia – in the room, on the telephone and via the internet – demonstrating the strong enthusiasm for the classic French wines from this great collection. The sale featured over 740 lots which were stored in the temperature controlled cellars of Lord Lloyd Webber’s 16thcentury home, Sydmonton Court, while many younger wines came from professional storage. The highlights included First Growths in key vintages such as 1982, 2000 and 2005. Never missing an opportunity to promote his show, Lord Lloyd Webber, commented after the sale: “I hope the new owners enjoy my wines as much as I have and look forward to reacquainting myself with them in restaurants all over China when Cats starts its national tour in Mandarin.”
