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Dan Frankel

Wine as an Investment Commodity

Updated: 14 hours ago

Wine used to be something you drank, right? Well, not anymore, at least not exclusively.

Wine has become a serious investment commodity, increasingly so in the past decades. More than ever wine has the capacity to appreciate in value, to the point where the current value of certain wines can far exceed their original purchase prices. Moreover, according to a joint paper by professors from Cambridge, Vanderbilt and HEC in Paris, wine as an investment outperforms such investments as government bonds, art and stamps. Not surprisingly, therefore, global wine auction sales have more than doubled from 2005 to 2021, increasing from $165 million to almost $400 million with record sales at Acker Merrall, Sotheby's, and Zachy's. On top of that wine even has its own trading exchange — the London International Vintners Exchange, or Liv-ex. Founded in 1999 in London, nearly $50MM of stock is available to buy instantly.


Wine used to be something you drank, right? Well, not anymore, at least not exclusively.


When presented with a wine collection how do you determine whether it constitutes an investment grade asset or is merely a very nice, but not especially valuable, collection of wines? There are several governing factors, such as the region from where it comes, the winery that produced it, the vintage from which it was bottled, and the conditions under which it was stored. An American Appraisal Association certified appraiser—one compliant with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice—who also possesses high level wine credentials and experience can most definitely evaluate the situation and provide the assistance necessary.


Contact us with questions about the process, or visit the experts at Cork Counsel for more information.


Wine appraisal resources at Cork Counsel

Acacia Insurance partners with the team at Cork Counsel for wine expertise.  The Cork Counsel team, which includes a Master of Wine, a certified wine appraiser and an attorney, performs appraisals and provides brokerage services for unique wine collections of any size.  With over 50 years’ experience in the fine wine business, Cork Counsel delivers distinctive service, efficient work, and impeccable results.


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Acacia Insurance has been helping to make the unexpected uneventful since 1988, and we look forward to working with you. Please contact us with questions and for additional information.



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