David Li, 32, was the top bidder at Auction Napa Valley, one of the biggest charity wine auctions in the United States, dethroning the big bidders from Silicon Valley.
Li said that he spent “a little bit” at Saturday’s live auction, but wouldn’t elaborate. What he did say, however, is that he has $3.5 billion from the sale last year of his Internet company and he plans to use his windfall to add to his 120,000-bottle wine cellar.
He spent $500,000 for the Screaming Eagle lot of six magnum bottles of 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon, the first vintage, donated by the cult boutique winery of the same name. The lot includes dinner for eight in the vineyard.
“I love Screaming Eagle. It’s the best wine in the world,” said Li.
Only 225 cases were made of that first vintage of Screaming Eagle and it earned cult status when wine critic Robert Parker gave it 99 points out of 100.
Li is one of many large wine collectors emerging from China, said Zelock Chow, who distributes California wine in China, the fastest growing wine market in the world.
“He is one of the bigger collectors of Bordeaux wines in China,” said Chow, referring to France’s most prestigious wine region. “But he likes the California wines as well.”
It was Li’s second year at Auction Napa Valley and he planned to come back.
“I really love this lifestyle, the Napa culture,” Li said.
“I am retired … and I am going to stay retired for two years,” he said. “Then maybe you have a job for me?”