Jeff Koons has become the latest in a long line of illustrious artists to produce a label for the equally celebrated wine of Chateau Mouton Rothschild.

For one French wine house, when traveling with valuable, vintage wines there is no wrapping bottles in socks and sweaters, cushioning them with towels and nestling them in suitcases.

For Cordier Mestrezat Grands Crus, prized wines travel in style, laid snugly in a custom-made Louis Vuitton carrying case that can house four bottles.

The specially commissioned wine travel case was showcased at Vinexpo in Bordeaux this week, to mark the French winemaker’s 125th anniversary.

Mouton-Rothschild has asked a Beijing artist, Xu Lei, to design the label for its 2008 vintage, in the footsteps of Georges Braque, Salvador Dali or Joan Miro.

Kept under wraps until the last moment, the predominantly blue painting features a ram standing on a rock and was chosen by Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, owner of the French chateau and a patron of the arts.

The Baroness’ father Philippe first enlisted an artist to design Mouton’s label in 1924, and every label since 1945 has featured a new work of art.

Acker Merrall & Condit conducted its first wine auction in Hong Kong on May 31, which realized $8.2 million and established new record.

The total was the highest for any wine auction held in Hong Kong to date (the sales was held in the wake of new Hong Kong legislation that abolished all taxes and duties on wine).

Bidding was fiercely competitive for a case of 6 magnums of Château Mouton Rothschild 1945 which fetched HK$1,306,000 (US$167,436) and a case of 12 bottles of Château Mouton Rothschild 1945 sold for HK$1,210,000 (US$155,128).