Introduction

Welcome to Encarta

Our immediate thoughts when we hear the word "investment" would generally be of stocks, shares and property. Investing in wine is an alternative traditional method of investment that has been around for over three hundred years. Although not as well known as certain other investments, wine has proven to be a highly lucrative alternative investment commodity.

The most successful and secure investment wines come from the Bordeaux region of France. The production of these top-quality wines is strictly controlled by the French Agricultural law "Appellation Controlee". This results in strictly controlled limits on their annual production, which helps ensure quality and also maintains their scarcity. Ever-increasing global demand for these wines ensures that their values continue to increase.

Fine wine investments can have a stabilising effect on any investment portfolio. Fine wine investments have proven to be generally unexpected by the fluctuations of stock markets and are highly resilient during harsh economic times. Over the past thirty years wine investments have shown exceptional stability and growth and have also outperformed many fixed-income equities and various other major investments sectors.