Making Sangria from Petrus – the story that made headlines

Recently, a restaurant in Cannes made headlines for world’s most expensive sangria – it was mixed with €120,000 worth of Petrus.

We wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve already seen the latest news circling around the world of wine. A few weeks ago, customers at a restaurant in Cannes ordered the world’s most expensive sangria. Resembling a scene from the French film Barbecue (if you don’t already know it, we recommend searching for ‘barbecue film sangria’ on Youtube to check it out), the sangria was made using bottles of Petrus. In total, 30 bottles with an estimated value of €120,000 were poured into a punch bowl with ice cubes, fruit and juice. This got us at iDealwine thinking – would sangria really be better if it was made with a fine red wine like Petrus?

A video shared on TikTok a few weeks ago shows customers emptying what looks to be bottles of Petrus from the 2011 and 2006 vintages into a punch bowl. Not being able to taste it ourselves, we’re going to have to imagine what it would have been like to have a glass of this special sangria. One of the most famous wines in the world, it has a wonderful structure and possesses complex aromas, a silky texture, and an incredible length on the palate. And this legendary wine found itself mixed with ice cubes and citrus fruits. Dare we call it sacrilège?

Would we judge an enthusiastic cook with a healthy wine budget in the same way? Some wine aficionados are proud to use the best of the best wine as they whip up a storm in the kitchen, especially for traditional French dishes like beef bourguignon (with Romanée-Conti?), coq au vin (cooked in Rayas?), and scallops (with a Bâtard-Montrachet sauce, from; let’s say Domaine d’Auvenay)? It’s true that while we can only advocate for complete appreciation and respect for these masterpiece wines at iDealwine (always in moderation!), we would like to think those wines would enhance those dishes, rather than overpower them.

Unlike the dishes mentioned above, sangria is a cocktail in which no ingredient should take centre stage; it is meant to be a harmonious blend. A fruity red wine for a more modest price from the south of France such as a Côte du Rhône or a Corbieres would have fit the bill brilliantly, complementing the added fruit and spices without being too tannic.

So why choose Petrus? For the shock factor? To cause a stir? If that was the aim, then they were certainly successful, and the video has been viewed 1.6 million times at the time of writing. It’s not how we at iDealwine would choose to drink Petrus, and struggle to imagine the scenario that led to the restaurant staff uncorking the bottles to facilitate this display of extravagance, but each to their own.

For us, Petrus, a property of 11.3 hectares, is quite simply a Bordeaux icon. The legend was born in 1947 when this famous Pomerol wine was served at the wedding breakfast of the future Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Then bottles of Petrus found their way to the White House when Kennedy lived there. Prices rose considerably as the blue-chip bottle’s reputation spread. In 2013, François Hollande, then President of France, decided to relinquish the Petrus collection in the cellar of the Élysée Palace, uncomfortable with the symbolism of serving or even cellaring a wine so expensive.

Whichever side of the story you’re taking, the truth is that we can’t stop talking about Petrus, whether it’s good or bad. The data backs up this claim, it is one of the most searched for wines on our website and wine enthusiasts on iDealwine rush to bid on this wine of dreams as soon as it appears at auction. Petrus is classed as one of the most expensive wines in the world, inciting the kind of demand that far outstrips the 30,000 bottles produced each year. If you’re interested to read more about what justifies the price of Petrus, take a look at our dedicated article to learn more.  

Finally, let’s quench your curiosity on one final point in this sangria saga. Did the restaurant goers in this story pay market value for the bottles? On iDealwine, the two bottles sold, 2011 and 2006, have price estimates of €2,460 and €2,504 respectively. The restaurant in Cannes billed €3,200 per bottle of 2011 and €3,800 per bottle of 2006. A high price to pay for a viral, TikTok moment!

Petrus bottles for sale on iDealwine

Is Petrus worth the price?