There Goes The Cost Of Living

California wines proved more valuable than expected at an auction that raised $6.47 million - the highest total ever for a U.S. wine sale.

The auction, held Friday and Saturday by Christie’s auction house and Bordeaux retailer Zachys, was second only to an $11.2 million Grand Cru sale by Christie’s London in September.

California wines sold for dramatically more than their estimated values. Twenty-five cases of 1994 Napa Valley Dominus sold for $77,300 - more than $3,000 per case. That was more than double the presale estimate of $38,000.

The wine was released at $900 a case - 12 bottles - as recently as last spring, said Fritz Hatton, director of Christie’s Wine Department.

“The message here is that California wines have finally arrived,” Hatton said Sunday. “The top California wines perform as well as Bordeaux in tastings, so there’s no reason they should be worth less.”