Five factors that make wine valuable

Buying wine for the purpose of drinking is vastly different from buying wine to include in your wine collection. The latter involves devoting your time to rigorous research, and having the aptitude to understand the intricacies involved in collecting wine.

If wine collection is your new passion, it’s important to understand what factors determine the value of a bottle of wine and its potential collectability. According to WineAdvise, here are the top five factors to look for:

Out of more than 2 million wine producers in the world, there are only about 500 that are known for providing the quality of wine that would increase in value over time. Selected Australian wineries can count themselves among this elite group, with blue chip names such as Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace, matching it with famous producers in France, Italy, and the United States.

The scarcer the wine, the higher its potential for increasing in value. Wines can become rare either because they are consumed over time or because there was only a small amount produced in the first place.

If a wine from a specific vintage gains status, this often attracts a following and people rush to buy it, driving up the demand. Because each vintage contains unique traits, its flavours cannot be replicated. Thus, gaining its rare status. 

The term ‘vintage’ refers to the year the grapes were harvested, which is the year you’ll see on the label of a wine bottle.

Because grapes can be extremely sensitive and complex, small fluctuations in weather conditions can make or break a vintage. The perfect balance is difficult to achieve and maintain from year to year. Therefore, when ideal conditions allow for a perfect balance, that vintage can become very valuable.

Not all wine benefit from ageing. Most mass-produced wines requires little maturity and can be consumed in the early days.. However, wines from great vintages typically age better than those of lesser vintages. Therefore, the longer it lasts, the more valuable it can become.

Ratings provide a guide on how wines compare in quality. A wine critic will use their expertise to give wine a rating.  

A world-renowned wine critic will have accumulated a wealth of knowledge on a variety of factors including a wine growing region, the vineyards, winemakers and their wines. This means years of studying and tasting wine in order to cultivate the level of expertise for each wine, and to be able to provide a reputable rating.  

While many wine purists abhor wine critic scores, those scores definitely affect the value of a wine. Top critics like James Halliday continue to influence perceptions of wine and their collectability with even slight adjustments to scores.

Does your wine collection have the right insurance coverage?

At Chubb, we insure valuable wine collections as part of our Masterpiece Home and Contents policy. Learn more about  how our Masterpiece policy covers wines and consider whether your wine collection is covered for the wide range of risks that may affect it. 

Sources: wineadvise.com and winecompanion.com.au