This wine is making history - here's how to invest

If you've ever thought about investing in fine wine, France's most famous wine region is giving everyday investors a compelling entry point.

The 2022 Bordeaux vintage is being billed as the "vintage of the century", with critics calling it the best modern Bordeaux yet, even outshining the prized 2016 crop.

Michael Anderson, head of Australian auction house Langtons, says the enthusiasm is justified.

"Bordeaux is always a solid long-term luxury investment," Anderson says. "In the best vintages, such as 2022, it takes a step up."

For investors, the timing matters. Prices are softer after a sluggish few years, while quality at the very top end is exceptional. That combination is rare in the wine world.

The fine wine market has cooled - but that may help investors

The global fine wine market has gone through a correction.

The Liv-ex Fine Wine 1000 - a major benchmark for global wine prices - has fallen 17.8% over the past two years, following weaker demand for the disappointing 2023 and 2024 Bordeaux vintages.

Industry sentiment is mixed. The 2025 Global Vines Report, which surveyed more than 800 wine professionals, shows buyers are becoming more selective.

Demand for low- and no-alcohol options is rising, and sustainability is becoming a major purchasing factor. Younger collectors, in particular, want transparency around how wines are grown and made.

Almost half of experts expect a market rebound by 2026, but 39% are bearish for the outlook. For retail investors, that could mean there's more value in choosing standout producers and standout vintages rather than broad exposure.

Why does Bordeaux still matter?

Bordeaux's key market index, the Liv-ex Bordeaux 500, has fallen nearly 20% from its 2022-23 peak.

Analysts also warn of a short-term surplus of high-end wine, with secondary market prices for Bordeaux and Burgundy down around 30%.

But the long-term story hasn't changed. Bordeaux's cabernet sauvignon and merlot blends have defined fine wine for centuries because of their ability to age and gain value over time.

And there's a cultural shift helping its appeal. As one Global Vines respondent put it: "People are drinking less, but they want better wine, unique experiences and stories."

Anderson sats the best Bordeaux estates offer all three.

What's so special about the 2022 vintage?

The 2022 vintage succeeded where it could have failed. While the season was unusually hot and dry, Langtons says careful vineyard and cellar work kept the wines balanced.

This resulted in bottles with richness and depth.

"People who can spend at this level demand the best and 2022 is the best of the blue-chip Bordeaux," Anderson says.

Wine critics agree. The 2022 Global Vines Report ranked Bordeaux at the top for red wines tasted during the year.

Review site James Suckling noted that although some wines showed higher alcohol or softer acidity, the leading estates produced reds that remain fresh.

How long can 2022 Bordeaux age?

Fine Bordeaux doesn't show its full personality immediately.

Most top 2022 wines will begin hitting their stride in around five to ten years, with the very best remaining collectible - and enjoyable - until about 2060.

This ageing curve is central to the investment appeal: time enhances both flavour and financial value.

The top wine investment picks of 2022

When asked which wines offer the strongest long-term potential, Anderson nominates three:

• Cos d'Estournel - Known for consistency and exceptional ageing potential (around $750 per bottle).
• Château Lafite - A "First Growth", the highest Bordeaux classification, retaining global demand in every great vintage. (around $2000 per bottle).
• Château Pontet-Canet - A biodynamic "Super Second" with lower production in challenging years, supporting long-term scarcity and value (around $330 per bottle).

Château Latour and Château Mouton Rothschild were also among the most talked-about wines of the 2022 vintage, according to the

How beginners can start investing in Bordeaux

There are four main pathways:

1. Buy bottles and store them

Ideal if you want the option to drink or sell. Professional storage is recommended unless you have a consistently cool space at home. Wine should be kept between 14°C - 18°C and at around 65%-75% humidity. Light and vibrations also need to be kept at a minimum.

2. Invest through En Primeur

This means buying wine before it's bottled. It often gives access to lower prices and guarantees allocations for sought-after estates.

3. Buy at auction

Anderson says auctions can offer good value, especially for large-format bottles or producers that are well known internationally but less recognised in Australia.

4. Use wine investment platforms or indexes

These allow investors to buy into curated wine portfolios without handling storage. It's a passive option, but you lose control over which labels you own.

The bottom line - wine is an asset you can enjoy

Bordeaux can be a slow-moving investment, and storage costs need to be factored in. But for investors wanting an alternative asset with heritage, scarcity and longevity, the 2022 vintage offers a rare mix of quality and value.

Anderson says that while rare wine can behave like other luxury goods in terms of price performance, there's one important difference.

"You can't drink a Birkin bag," he says. "The beauty of Bordeaux, indeed, all fine wine, is also the beauty itself."

"In a custom-built home, rows of red-topped wine bottles in the display cellar evolve into an interactive art piece that reveals as much about the collector as it does about the artist."

"Plucking a bottle from the cellar to share with a guest (or letting them choose) or selecting a dozen to sell at auction, luxury collecting, and investment in this sector gamify the experience like no other."

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