NEW YORK — Fine wine collecting is often a solitary, behind-closed-doors pursuit reserved for wealthy recluses. But when a truly elite private cellar hits the open market, the global oenophile community stops scrolling.
Acker, America’s oldest wine merchant and the world’s largest fine wine auction house, announced that its upcoming three-day Birthday Auction will feature a magnificent 595-lot centerpiece drawn directly from the private family collection of London-based collector, writer, and Golden Vines co-founder Lewis Chester DipWSET.
Key Takeaways
- Massive Auction Scale: Acker’s three-day Birthday Auction running November 19–21, 2026, will feature over 3,400 total lots with an aggregate estimated value exceeding $20 million.
- The Chester Cellar: Lewis Chester’s single-digit percentage family cellar release goes under the hammer on Thursday, November 19, anchored by heavy allocations of rare Champagne and Burgundy.
- The “Mr. Magnum” Legacy: Known in British press as “Mr. Magnum,” Chester’s collection features nearly 700 bottles in magnum or larger, including bespoke producer collaborations and ultra-rare 9-liter bottles.
The auction highlights a deeply personal approach to collecting. Chester, who co-founded Liquid Icons and the prestigious Golden Vines awards alongside the late Gérard Basset, only purchases wine after personally visiting the estates and building relationships with the winemakers. All consigned bottles have been professionally stored in bonded facilities separate from his home cellar, ensuring pristine provenance.
Reflecting on the upcoming sale, Chester explained the personal significance of putting his bottles on the block:
“I took a cross-section of the producers that I collect, and the wines from those producers. I wanted to show my method and the types of wines that I love, as a testament to my journey as a collector. Even though they might not know me personally, they’ll get to know me through those bottles.”
John Kapon, Chairman of Acker, expressed excitement over working with one of the UK’s most meticulous private cellars:
“The Magnum Man is as detailed and precise a collector as I have ever met, and those qualities have helped build one of the UK’s greatest collections, of which we are getting a tasty and important bite in the upcoming Birthday Auction. The offering is the cornerstone of the sale, and I cannot thank Lewis enough for the opportunity to work with him and his esteemed cellar.”
Lot Highlights and Rare Large Formats
While the broader auction spans top-tier Bordeaux, Rhône, and Italian icons, the Chester cellar portion is dominated by Champagne (led by 61 lots of Dom Pérignon and 45 lots of Krug) and pristine white and red Burgundies.
Standout lots include:
- Dal Forno Amarone 2012: Two rare 9-liter bottles (out of only ten ever made), each bearing a hand-signed note from Mr. Dal Forno.
- Domaine Leflaive Grand Crus: A rare vertical spanning the 2013, 2014, and 2015 vintages in 3-liter jeroboam formats.
- Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne: A multi-vintage assortment housed in a bespoke, co-branded wooden presentation case—the only one of its kind in existence.
- Ultra-Large Formats: Three Methuselahs of Clos des Lambrays 2015, a Melchior of Château Palmer 2009, and Imperials of Mouton Rothschild 2018 and 2019.
The auction kicks off at 3:30 PM ET on November 19, 2026, coinciding with Acker’s live-streamed BYO Birthday Bash & Bidding Party at Riverpark in New York City, where guests will enjoy a four-course dinner paired with bottles straight from Chester’s cellar.
Collectors worldwide can register to view the catalog and bid in real-time online via ackerwines.com.
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