PARIS, France – A bottle of Vieux Cognac dating back to 1788 — the year before the French Revolution — sold at a Paris auction of wine and spirits for euro25,000 (US$36,935).

Paris’ landmark Tour d’Argent restaurant has cleaned out its cellar, considered one of the best and biggest in the world, putting 18,000 bottles up for auction. The two-day sale, which ended yesterday, had been expected to bring in euro1 million, and bidders eventually spent euro1,542,767, the Piasa auction house said.

Wine-lovers from China to Russia to the United States bid for a chance at rare treasures. To put things in perspective, the pricey Vieux Cognac Le Clos Griffier dates back to 1788, when Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were still living at the royal palace at Versailles and would not be guillotined for another five years.

Wines can’t withstand the passing years as well as spirits like cognac, and the reds and whites on sale were younger and netted more modest prices. Twelve half-bottles of 1989 Chateau Haut-Brion went for a total of euro6,070. A lot of six bottles of Vosne-Romanee from 1988 netted euro6,320.

The restaurant donated proceeds from the euro25,000 bottle of 1788 cognac to the Association Petits Princes, a French charity that grants the wishes of ailing children. The Tour d’Argent, which means “Tower of Silver”, is keeping the rest of the money from the sale, which may be used later for renovations. Two additional bottles of the historic 1788 cognac sold for euro21,066 and euro18,588.

Despite the sale of thousands of bottles, there are still about 432,000 bottles stacked floor to ceiling under the restaurant in a succession of caverns. The auction’s goal was to cut down on wines the restaurant has in multiple so it can vary and modernise its selection.

The Left Bank restaurant, known for pressed duck and views of Notre Dame, dates back to 1582. It was once the summit of French gastronomy, attracting royalty, politicians and film stars.

But recent years have brought tougher times. Longtime owner Claude Terrail died in 2006, and his 29-year-old son Andre now runs it. The restaurant, where a prix fixe lunch menu costs euro65 and a tasting menu at dinner goes for euro160, long held three Michelin stars but is now down to one.