Erik, the owner of Skigaarden, called me out of the blue to discuss an auction opportunity. He told me about the mountain resort he’d built in Hemsedal, in the Norwegian highlands, and the huge cellar, which rested below. ‘You really have to see it’, he insisted. When I arrived a week later, I realised he was right — Skigaarden was exceptional, and at its heart was the incredible wine cellar.

Carved directly into the mountainside, the cellar at Skigaarden is cool, dimly lit, and silent. Rows upon rows of bottles and cases are carefully stacked, each representing a different of the world’s finest wine regions. The collection leans heavily into Champagne, with rare bottles from names like André Beaufort and Ulysse Colin, sitting next to superb, hard-to-find wines from great Maisons including Krug, Bollinger and Louis Roederer.

Surveying the cellar in more detail one finds legendary Grand Cru Burgundies from the likes of Roumier, Leflaive, and Grivot, alongside magnificent bottles from Italy’s iconic Giacomo Conterno and Spain’s Vega Sicilia — wines renowned for their longevity and complexity. The conditions are ideal: stable, cool temperatures and high humidity — perfect for aging.

Skigaarden isn’t just a wine cellar; it is a place for preserving and celebrating exceptional wines from around the world, before releasing them to market, when the moment is right. Christie’s is delighted to be entrusted with the sale of wines from this great collection. – Noah May, Head of Wine and Spirits EMEA

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