Jannine and Robert MacDonnell’s Wine Cellar Is up for Auction
To no huge surprise, a pair of late Napa Valley winery owners had excellent taste in wine themselves. Jannine and Robert MacDonnell, who put down roots in Rutherford, Calif, in the early 1980s, built an incredible wine collection in Napa over the decades, which will be offered at a Sotheby’s auction this fall.
Jannine and Robert, who died in 2021 and 2025, respectively, both shared a passion for art and wine. The couple’s cellar includes bottles from the world’s greatest wine regions—Italy, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhône—along with celebrated vintages and original cases. The collection is expected to hammer down for more than $1.5 million at Sotheby’s New York on October 24.
“The MacDonnell cellar reflects the very best of what great wine collecting can be,” Richard Young, head of auction, Americas at Sotheby’s, said in a statement. “Built patiently over decades, it combines extraordinary depth, impeccable provenance and a genuine passion for the world’s finest wines.”
Highlights from the family cellar of Jannine and Robert MacDonnell.
Sotheby’s
Starting with Burgundy, highlights include a pristine 12-bottle case of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 1999 (estimate: $40,000-$60,000), 10 bottles of Armand Rousseau Chambertin 2002 (est. $20,0000-$30,000), and a magnum of Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny 1990 (est. $3,800-$5,000).
Staying in France, standout Bordeauxs range from six original wooden cases of Château Mouton Rothschild 1982 (est. $9,000-$12,000) to an immaculate case of Château Haut-Brion 1989 (est. $16,000-$24,000). Heading to Rhône, top lots include eight bottles of Château Rayas 1989 (est. $10,000-$15,000) and 31 bottles of the 1990 (est. $24,000-$35,000 for 12 bottles), as well as Guigal’s celebrated “La La” wines, original cases of Chave Hermitage 1998 and 2000 (est. $2,400-$3,000), and 23 bottles of Jaboulet’s legendary La Chapelle 1978 (est. $9,000-11,000 for 12 bottles).
On the Italian front is Masseto in 15 vintages (1988 to 2002) and various formats (imperial, magnum, and double magnum), plus extensive selections from Gaja and Bruno Giacosa. Other lots to watch include three magnums of Sassicaia 1985 in an original wooden case (est. $5,500-$7,000), six magnums of Giacomo Conterno Monfortino 1990 (est. $12,000-$18,000), and a full 12-bottle case of the 1997 (est. $8,000-$10,000).
“From rare Italian icons and First Growth Bordeaux to benchmark Rhône and Burgundy, this is a collection of remarkable quality and scale,” adds Young.
The sale comes shortly after Sotheby’s auctioned off the MacDonnell’s art collection in May, realizing a total of $9.1 million against an estimate of $4.7 million and $7 million. That means the upcoming wine auction could also eclipse estimates.
