5 factors that make wine valuable
Whether you’re thinking about purchasing wine, or have started building a collection, it’s important to understand what factors determine the value of a bottle of wine and its potential as an investment. Below, we’ve outlined the top 5 factors to look for:
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Who produces the wine.
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. For the most part, producers in France, Italy, and California make the majority of investment-worthy wines.
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How much of the wine is available.
The more scarce the wine, the higher its potential for increasing in value. Wines can become scarce either because they are consumed over time or because there was only a small amount produced in the first place.
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The vintage of the wine.
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.
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The wine’s maturity.
Wines from great vintages typically age better than those of lesser vintages. Therefore, the longer it lasts, the more valuable it can become.
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How critics score the wine.
While many wine purists abhor wine critic scores, those scores definitely affect the value of a wine. Top critics like Robert Parker continue to influence perceptions of wine and their collectability with even slight adjustments to scores.
This document is advisory in nature and is offered as a resource to be used together with your professional insurance advisors in maintaining a loss prevention program. It is an overview only, and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with your insurance broker, or for legal, engineering or other professional advice.
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