As the French wine region of Beaujolais celebrates the start of a new season, a sign in Villefranche-sur-Saône states, "There are few things in life that can't be enhanced by a fine wine."

This maxim is becoming more and more applicable to investing as both investors and oenophiles look to diversify their portfolios with a wider range of assets.

(Photo : by John Phillips/Getty Images fro Elsevier Limited )
As the French wine region of Beaujolais celebrates the start of a new season, a sign in Villefranche-sur-Saône states, "There are few things in life that can't be enhanced by a fine wine."

An superb collection of alcoholic beverages may serve as a great complement to traditional investments, especially given its low correlation to the global stock market. However, not all wines are created equal, so having an experienced taste will help you figure out where to begin.

Comparing the yearly returns of collectibles such as paintings, watches, vehicles, and handbags, the Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index often lists fine wine as one of the best-performing alternative asset classes.

Fine wine has increased in value by 149% over the last ten years, outpacing the gains of currencies, vehicles, and jewelry. It has the second-highest return of any alternative investment, after whiskey (322%).

The most well-known bottles among them increased even further: over the same time period, wines from Burgundy, a region of France known for its pinot noir and chardonnay grape varietals, had a 214% increase.

But like the maturing process itself, good wine usually requires patience and a strong stomach to invest in.

Based on the 100 most traded fine wines on the secondary market, the Liv-ex Fine Wine 100 benchmark shows that prices fell 11.3% in the year to October, retreating from a high base following a Covid-induced rally.

Investing in Fine Wine: A Fusion of Art, Origin, and Scarcity

Experts advise prospective wine buyers to see their purchase as a work of art, with origin, quality, and scarcity being important considerations.

Research is essential for that, according to Maxwell, who also said that new entrants now find it simpler to evaluate businesses' ratings, critical acclaim, manufacturing methods, and consumption rates due to increased data accessibility in recent years.

Experts concurred that, despite the data and statistics, investors should also genuinely love wine.

For investors wishing to purchase young wines at a discount to be kept for the long term, wineries and wine merchants might be a great place to start. Auction houses, on the other hand, offer access to collector bottles and already highly regarded brands.

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Sotheby's Presents "An Epicurean's Atlas" - A Year-Long Wine Auction Extravaganza

A year-long bottle sale organized by Taiwanese billionaire and art collector Pierre Chen is now taking place at Sotheby's. Through late 2024, auctions will take place in Hong Kong, Paris, Burgundy, New York, and London.

The "An Epicurean's Atlas" collection is predicted to bring in up to $50 million throughout the course of the five auctions, which Sotheby's Pegna said demonstrated the extremely profitable nature of the industry. Henri Jayer Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux 1er Cru, for instance, is expected to fetch around $70,000 for a magnum.

The transaction occurs when the market is experiencing growth due to improved accessibility and an expanding customer base.

The value of Sotheby's fine wine auctions has nearly quadrupled in the last ten years, from $58 million in 2013 to $158 million in 2022. Two-thirds of the new bidders, who are in their 30s and 40s, have grown in number by over 500% and the number of existing bidders by nearly 400% during the same time period.

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