Is collecting vintage wine a good investment to make a profit?

“Wine is endlessly wonderful and brings people together,” says Barbara Drew of wine merchants Berry Bros & Rudd wine. “Every vault is unique to the person who built it.”

Barbara is seeing a growing interest in wine collectors, from those who are just starting to learn about wine to enthusiasts (wine enthusiasts for those who don't know) who have been enjoying it for several decades and want to start building a cellar.

Bordeaux and Burgundy are very popular and form the basis of many cellars. However, Italy, in particular excellent Tuscan wines and wines from Barolo, is seeing increasing demand. Vintage Champagne is also a consistently high performer. “Buying wine from reputable producers is often more important than focusing on a particular region, and provenance is key too – making sure your wine is as advertised and has been stored correctly.”

With its growing popularity since the 1980s, wine has become a popular culture and less the domain of the wealthy. “Collecting and investing was only available to a certain demographic,” says Dia Gregorio of Vintage Wine and Port. I think more people are participating these days. Educational platforms have created more in-depth knowledge, and this combined with the widespread availability of wine information via social media and the Internet has led to an increase in interest in wine.

Temperature is probably the most important thing when storing wine. In general, the ideal storage temperature is around 13°C. “Exposure to light as well as vibration should be avoided, as UV rays from direct sunlight can damage the flavor and aroma of the wine,” advises Zia. Humidity is also important, so be sure to keep wine cellar levels between 60 and 68 percent. Wines with corks should be placed on their side.

But to maintain its tradable value, fine wines must be kept in perfect condition. If you don't have the ideal facilities for storing wine at home, consider storing it with a reputable wine merchant or wine storage company.

For those who decide to decant, enjoying a glass of vintage wine is a unique experience. “An antique Bordeaux can provide a wonderful experience, especially with food or cheese,” says Zia. The wines of 19th century Madeira are exciting in their own right, as they are very complex wines. There is this sense of enjoyment derived from the fact that not many bottles are widely circulated after a while, and it is rare to be able to enjoy such a wine. It is important to note that vintage wine is an acquired taste; I personally love and appreciate them. I always try vintage wines with an open mind and thought about the vintage they were created from and the history they experienced while undergoing the aging process.

When you build an investment cellar, it also helps to store your wine in bond – meaning no taxes and duties are paid on the wine, and it can be sold more easily.

The advantage of investing in wine is that if your investment does not perform as well as expected financially, it is always possible to open it and enjoy it.