What's the Most Expensive Bottle of Wine at Farmstead?

Farmstead Cheese and Wines is a common destination for wine lovers looking to grab a bottle for a party or romantic dinner.

But for those looking to celebrate a really special occasion with the store's most expensive bottle, employee Craig Dickerson has to grab a ladder and climb to one of the top shelves at the store.

He pulls out Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah 2004. One bottle of this Australian wine will set you back $340. Dickerson said the wine has gone out of popularity so it isn't often that it's purchased at the store.

He then shows us the second most-expensive wine — Raven 2006 Grenache. This California wine has a cult following according to Dickerson, despite the price tag of $252 a bottle.

"Ever year we get one to two bottles of this," he said.

Among the vast selection of wines, Dickerson said there are certain qualities that give a bottle its price.

One would be the reputation held by the winemaker. Some of the best quality wines are made by winemakers who have been trained in France. He said there needs to be very little made of it to increase its rarity. Lastly, the fruit itself used in the wine is usually made form the best and most coveted.

Nestled within Alameda's Marketplace, the wine store is located at 1650 Park St.

To learn more about Farmstead Wines and Cheeses, visit their website at www.farmsteadcheesesandwines.com.