Opus One at Auction: Is It Worth More Than Retail?
Compare Opus One auction prices vs retail from 2021–2026. Does Napa's most famous wine trade at a premium or discount to Wine Searcher retail?
Opus One sits at a curious intersection — it's famous enough to have global demand but produced in enough quantity that auction dynamics differ from cult wines.
Over the five-year period from 2012–2026, Opus One wines sold across 999 lots at fine wine auction houses worldwide. The average hammer price across all wines and vintages was $349 per bottle. A -4.7% compound annual growth rate indicates prices have softened over the period, which may present a buying opportunity relative to historical highs. The strongest-performing vintage at auction has been 1979, averaging $696 per bottle.
999
Total Lots Sold
$349
Avg Price / Bottle
1979
Best Vintage
-4.7%
Avg 5-yr CAGR
Price Trend: 2021–2025
Prices have dramatically risen from $215 in 2012 to $331 in 2026 — a 54% increase over the period. The market peaked at $444 in 2021.
Average hammer price per bottle, all lots and vintages combined. Source: WineAuction.ai — 999 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 Opus One, Napa Valley (1986), currently averaging $1,700 per bottle.
| Wine | Vintage | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Lots | CAGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 2001 | $488 | — | $333 | $260 | $309 | 13 | -7.8% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1979 | — | — | $1,669 | $703 | — | 8 | -30.9% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1986 | $623 | $335 | — | — | $1,700 | 9 | -21.3% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1997 | $352 | $512 | $408 | $506 | $360 | 36 | 0.6% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 2007 | $475 | $373 | $348 | $333 | $345 | 27 | -7.7% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1983 | $499 | $366 | $315 | — | — | 10 | -12.0% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1985 | $644 | $398 | — | $365 | $334 | 14 | -12.9% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1987 | $465 | $210 | $250 | — | $300 | 13 | 2.2% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1988 | $366 | $335 | $310 | $317 | $190 | 12 | -3.0% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1989 | $463 | $253 | — | $255 | — | 7 | -8.3% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1990 | $551 | — | $370 | — | $471 | 14 | -9.3% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1993 | $407 | $310 | $338 | $333 | $424 | 17 | -7.5% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1994 | $380 | $324 | $360 | $407 | $352 | 26 | -1.9% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1995 | $327 | $353 | $367 | $388 | $324 | 25 | 11.3% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1998 | $363 | $363 | — | — | $290 | 16 | -5.5% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1999 | $645 | — | $309 | $347 | $325 | 24 | -14.2% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 2005 | $430 | $337 | $363 | $323 | $321 | 31 | -7.0% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 2002 | — | $289 | $367 | $325 | $360 | 14 | 7.6% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 2004 | $315 | — | $339 | $326 | $296 | 18 | 4.9% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1981 | $420 | $318 | $293 | $265 | $335 | 11 | -4.5% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1982 | $434 | $305 | $325 | — | — | 10 | -7.1% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1984 | — | $522 | $231 | — | $281 | 10 | -12.9% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1991 | $480 | $361 | $368 | $360 | $1,344 | 21 | 29.4% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1992 | $385 | — | $333 | $289 | $363 | 15 | -1.5% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 1996 | $405 | $318 | $305 | $285 | $315 | 27 | -6.1% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 2003 | $758 | $425 | $301 | $290 | $321 | 23 | -19.3% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 2006 | $499 | $307 | $335 | $295 | $308 | 23 | -11.2% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 2008 | — | $323 | $285 | — | $303 | 8 | -2.1% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 2010 | $694 | $411 | $350 | $369 | $340 | 33 | -14.7% |
| Opus One, Napa Valley | 2000 | $420 | $311 | — | $292 | $271 | 13 | -11.4% |
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 Opus One wines that appear most often at auction — the easiest to buy and sell if you need flexibility.
Key Takeaways
- →Most liquid wine:: Opus One, Napa Valley has appeared in 999 lots — the most frequently traded in the portfolio and the easiest to resell if you need to exit a position.
- →Best investment return:: Opus One, Napa Valley (1991) has compounded at 29.4% annually — the strongest performer in the Opus One portfolio by growth rate.
- →Potential entry point:: Prices eased from $371 in 2025 to $331 in 2026. For buyers who have been watching the market, this may represent a more attractive entry point.
Related Articles
Screaming Eagle Auction Prices: Every Vintage, Every Format
Complete Screaming Eagle auction price history from 2021–2026. Cabernet Sauvignon and Second Flight prices by vintage, format (bottle/magnum), and house.
Read article →Napa Cult Cab Compared: Screaming Eagle vs Harlan vs Bond vs Promontory
Side-by-side comparison of Napa Valley cult Cabernets at auction from 2021–2026. Find which cult wine delivers the best appreciation and liquidity.
Read article →Harlan Estate Auction Prices: 5-Year Data on California's Most Collectible Cab
Harlan Estate auction price history from 2021–2026 including The Maiden and BOND. Track Napa's iconic Cabernet Sauvignon by vintage.
Read article →Ridge Monte Bello at Auction: The Best-Value Investment in Napa?
Ridge Monte Bello auction price history from 2021–2026. Does California's most age-worthy Cabernet trade above or below its peers?
Read article →