William “Bill” Koch, who amassed a 43,000-bottle cellar of rare wines and then launched a crusade of litigation to stamp out sales of counterfeits, has consigned more than 7,000 bottles from his collection to Christie’s, which conducted a three-day auction of the wines in June. Koch spoke to Wine Spectator about his love for wine, some of his memorable wine occasions and his decision to trim his collection.
This article was originally published on June 17, 2025. You can read the full-length version for free here.
Member-Only Content
Premium SubscriptionJoin today and get immediate access to this article, and to our entire database of more than 450,000 wine ratings. It only takes moments—but it will help you drink better all year long.
Already a member? Sign In
Try Winespectator.com Free for 30 Days!
Full access to our database of more than 425,000 wine ratings
Early access to reviews on our editors' favorite just-rated wines
Wine and food pairing tool,
chefs' pairing recommendations
Best value wines and winery intel
Subscribe today
