Things to Know If You’re Interested in Investing in the Wine Market

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As what business experts say, the wine market investment for Bordeaux wine is set on a roller coaster ride. This analogy is a perfect description for this type of business because it has been marked by many ups and downs.

It can be recalled that the Bordeaux wine investment was at the top during the summer of 2008. However, the prices came crashing down later that year due to stock market issues.

 

The Rise And Fall Cycle Of The Wine Market

The Bordeaux wine market continues to be unstable somewhat, as it will occasionally lose traction and gain ground all over in the same cycle. One of the essentials to investing in the Bordeaux wine market is in the success of its futures.

 

First Growth Bordeaux wines are among the most popular and expensive wines in the world. But, First Growth producers have tried setting an example of caution due to the deepening economic crisis in 2008. Thus, they have offered the sale of wine at the lowest since 2002. Thus, sales of the First Growths were comparatively brisk in which Latour and Lafite led the pack.

 

Heading In The Right Direction

Thus, the sales of Lafite skyrocketed to 300%, while Latour doubled in price. Most of the 2008 Bordeaux haven’t moved much in terms of prices. Due to the success of the campaign for the futures, consumers should learn where the direction of the fine market is heading.

 

Other indications can also tell about the direction of Bordeaux wines. This would include the Chateau Lafite Rothschild, which is still the most collectible. The Lafite also continued to lead the bounce back in the world market for wines. Nevertheless, the wine from Pomerol named Petrus has also reached all-time highs at the same sale in Hong Kong.

 

Strong Demand In Asia

The growth in demand from Asia might be an indication of a strong market, but the market in the U.S. and London have still been weak. So, there might be some questions surrounding the direction of Bordeaux prices as well as other collectible wines.

 

Good thing sales are heading out to China, but this will have a knock-off impact on other First Growths, which would lead down the chain. So, the continued sale of Lafite would result to lesser consumers in the west.

 

Take note that most wines sold to China are at the top end, but many wealthy buyers don’t know anything about wine, since China is just a young market. So, if they would discover Lafite is not the sole fine wine, leading to a bigger range of wines to buy.

 

First Growths Are Worthy Investments

But the Chinese don’t like Haut Brion, it lags behind other First Growths. However, the quality is great, so buy in order to invest to what the Chinese would purchase tomorrow. In this case, Latour is expected to be the next Lafite.

 

The year 2008 offers vintage wines, giving great pleasure for your palate and relieving your bank account. However, such would not be the focus of wine investors. Some wines from 2009 also deserve some attention, since most of them are offered at fair prices. Nevertheless, First Growths are the best choice if you are planning to invest in wine retail business.

 

Chateau 55 Wine Storage

If you’re looking to store your First Growths, or really any type of wine you’re collecting, contact us at Chateau 55. We have a new state-of-the-art facility custom designed to strict wine storage specifications. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Chateau 55 is centrally located and proud to serve San Diego County, including but not limited to the cities of: Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Carlsbad, San Marcos, and Escondido

Does Size And Shape Matter When It Comes To Your Wine Bottles?

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Wine bottles are designed for many different purposes in order to satisfy wine maker needs. There is an explanation for all wine bottle shapes and sizes, which is backed by history and entails important information about wine bottles.

 

Early Wine Bottle Shapes

The evolution of the design for wine bottle sizes and shapes began in the early to mid-1700s. Such changes were due to a number of factors, which include the following:

  • When it was first discovered that cork was an effective sealing agent, which helps to prevent wines from ageing or foiling
  • When it was discovered that larger bottles not only influence how it looks, but it would also change how the wine tasted

Thus, it was also discovered that

  • Large-sized wine bottles were suitable for the preservation of Bordeaux wine, as well as other wines. This is because large bottles would allow wine to age more slowly in comparison to smaller wine bottles.

According to experts, the tiny amount of air, which is oxygen and sulfur dioxide, residing between the wine and the cork would affect this characteristic.

  • Very large bottles may also have an advantage as well. The thicker glass of large bottles would prevent wines to experience variations in temperature over time. For this reason, it would help wine age evenly.

However, this would require the production of cork that may not be perfect, leading to the imperfect sealing of wine that would lead to ageing.

 

Some Wine Bottle Names

In fact, bottle sizes for wines have unique names, which might be inspired by the characters found in the Bible. These include:

  • Jeroboam – the Kingdom’s First King
  • Methuselah – the oldest man
  • Salmanzar – the Assyrian King
  • Balthazar – 1 of the 3 Wise Men
  • Nebuchadnezzar – the King of Babylon
  • Solomon – the wisest of all men who built the temple of Jerusalem
  • Melchizede – priesthoods from different religions named after this person.

 

Nevertheless, bottle sizes are not just the issue that varies widely because bottle shape also has a great impact in the bottling of wines. In fact, there were no standard shapes or sizes for such bottles in its early development.

 

The different shapes of bottles might not be easy to cellar or stack. So the evolution of wine bottles took place with the development of the cork that was in 1600s until the 18th century.

 

Modern Wine Bottles

Nowadays, there are 3 widely used bottles in the myriad of differences in shapes.

  • Bordeaux bottles have sloped shoulders that help in trapping the sediments, while the punt adds more strength to the bottle’s construction.
  • Burgundy bottles have wider and more pear-shaped designs than the Bordeaux.
  • Champagne bottles were designed to improve the beauty and practical reasons. For practicality, it was made because bottles are required to be stronger.

 

Overall, the most popular wine bottle size and shape is that of the Bordeaux bottle. This bottle has been used for most of the wine products up to now. It has a standard size of 750ml. Contact Chateau 55 for wine bottle storage of all shapes and sizes.

 

 

Chateau 55 is centrally located and proud to serve San Diego County, including but not limited to the cities of: Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Carlsbad, San Marcos, and Escondido

Proper Storage Tips For Your Aged Wine Collection

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Like many wine lovers, you’re probably familiar with advanced-level connoisseurs who buy wine now and drink them years or even decades into the future. You might even be thinking about becoming one of these aged wine collectors! Before you take the plunge, though, you need to learn more about wine collecting and storing. This guide will help you get started.

 

Why should you collect and store wine?

Connoisseurs agree that aged wine smells and tastes better. It also gets more expensive; if properly aged, a bottle that you buy today can be worth several times more in the future.

 

But it doesn’t stop there. For many people, the joy in wine collecting comes from the actual aging process. It will certainly challenge your patience, but the wait is worth it when you actually get to open and taste the aged wine that you’ve been storing. An added bonus: you’ll have the honor of drinking something that was made a long time ago and has been a part of history.

 

Of course, before storing wine for years, make sure to that it is meant to be aged. Many vintages have lower quality and should therefore be consumed while they’re young. The best vintages, however, get better with age and are definitely worth the wait.

 

How aging transforms wine

Properly aged wine changes color as years go by. In young wines, deeper hues are better since they indicate richer concentrations of the raw materials. In aged wines, however, the opposite is true: properly stored bottles get lighter as years go by. Dark red or purple wines can turn into ruby and eventually into orange when aged for decades.

 

Another thing you’ll notice is the change in aroma. Young wines are known for their fruity scents, which is what makes them popular among those new to wines. However, experienced collectors are searching for something different: they like the earthy notes associated with aged wines, which include hints of smoke, cedar wood, and tobacco. These heavier, more complex scents indicate that the wine has gone through proper storage and aging.

 

Of course, let’s not forget the texture. When you drink young wines, you’ve probably noted their zesty, acidic tang, which is a good indicator of freshness. It’s different with aged wines, though; instead of a sharp “zest”, you’ll be greeted with a smooth texture that feels silky and velvety in your mouth. This smoothness, coupled with the wine’s earthy notes, pave the way to a tantalizing experience that fires up all of your senses.

 

Properly storing your collection

Even if you buy the most expensive bottle from the best vintage, it would still be useless if you simply let it sit beside a window. To ensure your wine properly ages, you’ll want to practice proper storage techniques, such as keeping the bottles away from light (both natural and artificial sources) and maintaining the appropriate levels of temperature and humidity.

 

You can go the DIY way by building a wine cellar at home. But, if you want a simple, fuss-free solution, the best thing to do is to use the services of a wine storage facility like Chateau 55. Through our modern methods and state-of-the-art equipment, we can keep your wines properly stored. Keeping your wine stored and aged correctly will ensure you enjoy full flavor, aroma, and texture at the right time.

 

 

Chateau 55 is centrally located and proud to serve San Diego County, including but not limited to the cities of: Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, Carlsbad, San Marcos, and Escondido