Gulf-based Manchester United fans will soon be able to get their hands on a piece of football memorabilia as the Christie’s auction house has announced it has been contracted to sell part of the wine collection owned by former manager Sir Alex Ferguson as part of an upcoming US $5m sale.
The collection includes a range of fine and rare wines featuring Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundies and first growth Bordeaux bottles ranging from the 1986 to 2011 vintages.
During this period, Ferguson successfully led Manchester United through one of its most successful periods, which saw it claim two European Cups, 12 Premier League titles, five FA Cup victories, four League Cup victories, the UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the Inter-Continental Cup and the FIFA World Club Cup.
The Fine & Rare Wines from The Collection of Sir Alex Ferguson will go on sale in a number of different lots. On May 24, 257 lots will be sold in Hong Kong, 140 will be sold in London on June 5 and an online-only auction, accessible to Gulf-based fans, will offer 85 lots from June 9 to 23.
All the buyers in the online-only sale also will receive a signed catalogue. In addition, Christie’s will offer a selection of signed football memorabilia, with estimates ranging from £350 ($587) to £65,000. The collection is expected to raise in excess of £3m ($5m).
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“I am pleased to be working with Christie’s to share one of my life’s pleasures. My interest in wine began during a scouting trip in France and, over time, my enjoyment of discovery and collecting grew," said Ferguson.
He added: "The importance of collecting wine was that it served as a distraction and gave me a balance in my life that helped me in dealing with the intensity and demands required of me as the manager of Manchester United.
"In retirement, I now have the time to visit the places and people that will feed my passion, so I felt it made sense to release a large number of the wines I had collected over the years. I hope many will enjoy exploring my collection."
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