Historically, there are some regions that consistently produce these kinds of wines – most famously those of Bordeaux and Burgundy in France. Vineyards there, such as Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, produce excellent wines year in, year out, and therefore are especially sought-after by collectors.
“The great wines of Bordeaux, and particularly the Médoc, can age for decades,” explains Bruno Borie, co-owner at Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou. “When planted on deep gravels, cabernet sauvignon produces wines of exquisite freshness, densely concentrated black fruits and layers of ultrafine tannins, the formula for unparalleled longevity.”
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But the wine investor’s shopping list can – and these days should – reach beyond these traditional stalwarts. Napa Valley and Sonoma in California, Barolo in Italy, Chile, Australia – even Germany and New Zealand – are now producing wines of superlative quality and longevity that therefore have huge cellaring potential. That said, the top performing region in the world in 2021, according to Liv-Ex, the London-based fine wine exchange, was another very familiar name: Champagne, up an effervescent 34 per cent in the year to date.
“Vintage port is another collectible wine that has stood the test of time,” says Joe Czerwinski, editor-in-chief of Robert Parker Wine Advocate, arguably the most influential wine review magazine in the world.
“Collecting wine carries certain costs – proper storage, cataloguing and insurance – and selling wine incurs others – transportation and commissions,” says Czerwinski. Which is why a wine collection needs to consist of wines that will increase in value over time.
Wine’s built-in scarcity factor does make it a successful asset class. “It is both a diminishing asset and one where time invested in holding on to stock is often necessary and generally encouraged,” says Justin Gibbs, deputy chairman and exchange director at Liv-Ex.
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Above all, select wines that appeal to you. Whether purely for investment and resale, or for drinking with friends, a wine collection should always be something to enjoy. “A love of cuisine and the art of sharing good food and fine wine with family and friends – this is what wine is all about,” says Borie.ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tK%2FMqWWcp51kuqKzwLOgp52jZMC1xcueZqWdmajCs7GOmqmtoZOhsnB%2FkHJvcWlmZLWww4ysq5qqpGKur7CMppiipqSWtq950p6poqelqHq4tc2eZJynnKGypMDIqKVmnp%2BYwrR5wairraSVqHqksculmKuhnpx6sbvTnqWtoZGheqq61Z6qrWWTna6uvMCgpZ4%3D