Gaja at Auction: Barbaresco, Sorì Tildin, Sorì San Lorenzo, and Costa Russi
Complete Gaja auction price history from 2021–2026. Barbaresco village wine plus single-vineyard sorì prices with vintage rankings.
Gaja put Barbaresco on the world auction map — its single-vineyard designates trade at prices that put them alongside Burgundy premier crus.
Over the five-year period from 2011–2026, Gaja wines sold across 1,000 lots at fine wine auction houses worldwide. The average hammer price across all wines and vintages was $302 per bottle. The portfolio's 8.6% compound annual growth rate substantially outpaces the broader fine wine index and inflation, reinforcing the domaine's status as a top-tier collectible. The strongest-performing vintage at auction has been 1956, averaging $1,200 per bottle.
1,000
Total Lots Sold
$302
Avg Price / Bottle
1956
Best Vintage
8.6%
Avg 5-yr CAGR
Price Trend: 2021–2025
Prices have modestly fallen from $210 in 2011 to $195 in 2026 — a 7% decrease over the period. The market peaked at $408 in 2025. The softest year on record was 2015 at $148 per bottle.
Average hammer price per bottle, all lots and vintages combined. Source: WineAuction.ai — 1,000 lots across 9 houses.
Wine-by-Wine Price Performance
The table below breaks down performance by individual wine and vintage. The most expensive wine in the portfolio is Gaja, Barbaresco (1982), currently averaging $1,607 per bottle.
| Wine | Vintage | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Lots | CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1998 | $125 | — | $255 | $180 | $188 | 11 | 10.7% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1985 | $301 | $370 | $544 | $211 | $626 | 30 | 20.1% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1986 | $203 | $250 | $213 | $160 | — | 10 | -7.6% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1990 | $572 | $315 | — | $667 | $909 | 18 | 12.3% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1997 | $299 | $253 | $231 | $352 | $443 | 61 | 10.3% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1982 | $373 | $385 | $1,750 | $894 | $1,607 | 29 | 44.1% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1996 | — | $196 | — | $450 | $447 | 25 | 31.6% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1988 | $309 | — | $666 | $160 | $500 | 51 | 12.8% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 2001 | $261 | — | $341 | $1,100 | $92 | 21 | -22.9% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 2004 | — | $232 | $249 | $307 | $317 | 41 | 11.0% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1995 | $182 | $210 | $221 | $211 | — | 12 | 5.1% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 2000 | $178 | $267 | $360 | $2,400 | $545 | 23 | 32.3% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 2006 | — | $151 | $190 | — | — | 10 | 25.8% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 2009 | $167 | $217 | $350 | — | — | 9 | 44.8% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 2010 | $235 | $189 | $141 | $240 | $421 | 46 | 15.7% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1964 | $273 | — | $498 | $588 | $625 | 26 | 23.0% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1970 | $300 | $333 | $237 | $531 | $226 | 41 | -6.8% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1999 | $222 | $228 | $257 | $217 | $264 | 25 | 4.4% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 2005 | $167 | — | $325 | $293 | $217 | 25 | 6.8% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 2011 | — | $149 | $161 | — | $325 | 20 | 29.7% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1961 | — | — | $627 | $830 | $550 | 16 | -6.3% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1962 | $300 | — | $600 | — | — | 4 | 41.4% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 2003 | — | — | $148 | — | — | 7 | — |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 2012 | $152 | $190 | $209 | $188 | — | 19 | 7.3% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1978 | — | $292 | $255 | $236 | $290 | 25 | -0.2% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1979 | $180 | — | $294 | $142 | $133 | 13 | -7.3% |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1983 | — | — | — | $210 | — | 5 | — |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1966 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1981 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Gaja, Barbaresco | 1989 | $361 | $388 | $334 | $315 | $502 | 21 | 8.6% |
Prices are average hammer prices per bottle. CAGR calculated from first year with data to most recent. Lots with fewer than 3 sales may show volatile averages.
Most Frequently Traded
Liquidity matters as much as price appreciation for investment-grade wine. These are the Gaja wines that appear most often at auction — the easiest to buy and sell if you need flexibility.
Key Takeaways
- →Most liquid wine:: Gaja, Barbaresco has appeared in 1,000 lots — the most frequently traded in the portfolio and the easiest to resell if you need to exit a position.
- →Best investment return:: Gaja, Barbaresco (1993) has compounded at 73.6% annually — the strongest performer in the Gaja portfolio by growth rate.
- →Potential entry point:: Prices eased from $408 in 2025 to $195 in 2026. For buyers who have been watching the market, this may represent a more attractive entry point.
- →Inflation hedge:: At 8.6% average annual growth, this portfolio has comfortably outpaced US CPI inflation (averaging ~3–4% over the same period) while producing a tangible, enjoyable asset.
Related Articles
Barolo at Auction: Giacomo Conterno, Bartolo Mascarello, and Bruno Giacosa
Barolo auction prices from 2021–2026. Conterno Monfortino, Mascarello, and Bruno Giacosa data with vintage rankings and producer comparison.
Read article →Brunello di Montalcino at Auction: Biondi-Santi, Soldera, and Top Producers
Brunello di Montalcino auction price history from 2021–2026. Biondi-Santi Riserva, Soldera, and top producer rankings with vintage analysis.
Read article →Super Tuscans at Auction: Sassicaia, Ornellaia, Masseto, and Tignanello
Super Tuscan auction prices from 2021–2026. Sassicaia, Ornellaia, Masseto, and Tignanello compared — which IGT wine has the best auction ROI?
Read article →Italian Wine Investment: Is Barolo the New Burgundy?
Compare Italian wine price growth vs Burgundy from 2021–2026. Barolo, Brunello, and Super Tuscans show which Italian category is gaining fastest.
Read article →