Let us be honest. We all wished we had invested in more fine wines and had a greater wine collection at home when the pandemic hit. The online wine boom isn’t over yet. With virtual wine tastings, more free time and the ability to purchase wines online, the thirst for wine is just beginning. The IWSR predicts that by 2024, the total value of online alcohol sales in the UK will be 50% higher than it was in 2019.
Not only is investing and collecting wine a brilliant idea financially, but it’s also a good idea to ensure you have some excellent wine to enjoy if the world goes crazy once again.
Investing in fine wines and starting a wine collection is a relatively safe move. Fine wines can steadily increase over time. According to Liv-ex, the global marketplace for the wine trade, in just over 20 years, the value of a case of Armand Rousseau Chambertin (a grand cru Burgundy) has increased by over 3,000% as of February 2021.
Becoming a wine investor and collector is easier than ever in 2021. With the online auction boom, whether you wish to collect for enjoyment or invest for financial gain, there’s never been a better time to buy fine wines. This could just be one of the better things to come from the global pandemic.
Of course, Sotheby’s Wine Auction house made the smart move to reach a wider audience at a pivotal time in history by significantly increasing their digital presence in 2020 by holding online wine auctions. According to the world-renowned auction house, this helped attract new buyers, 60% of them in their 30s and 40s.
Becoming a Wine Investor and Collector
If you are becoming a wine collector to drink and enjoy the wine, focus on wines you already enjoy but perhaps upgrade a little to a more refined vintage and look at wine reviews by wine critics to see which ones are winning accolades.
If you are investing in fine wines, then you need to consider the following:
- Vintage
- Reputation
- Rarity
- Provenance
- Scoring
If you plan to make fine wine investments, unless you have a spacious and secure place to store your fine wine collection, you would be better employing the services of a fine wine specialist to advise you on all the key elements of investing in wine.
Start small and have a balanced collection of red, white, rosé and champagnes if you are collecting wine to enjoy. The better quality wines can improve with age and also in value.
