Wine as an asset: what collectors look for

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Marble's head sommelier, Wikus Human and Investec's Roy van Eck, discuss what to consider when graduating from casual wine purchaser to wine collector. Together with host Palesa Mapheelle, they explain how to identifying age-worthy vintages, and the risks and rewards of investing in wine to make a financial return. They also share their personal journeys into wine, what mistakes they they've made along the way, and why South African wines may still represent an undervalued opportunity.
KEY MOMENTS:
00:00: Introduction to Wine in Focus
00:38 Recognising the storms in Western Cape Winelands
00:58: Introduction to guests
01:56: The start of the wine journey for Wikus and Roy
04:02: Collecting wine for investment or consumption
05:00: How do you know that a wine is worth aging?
06:08: How sommeliers keep personal tastes at bay
07:03: Never buy one bottle at a time: Lessons on purchasing
08:00: The risks associated with investing in wine
09:51: Liv-Ex Fine Wine 1000 Index: Wine returns on the sharp decline
11:11: The reason behind falling wine prices
13:17: “En primeur” explained: buying wine still in the barrel
15:29: Wine regions and wine varietals worth noting
17:22: 2014 and 2023 deemed poor vintages but not across the board
17:44: SA offers quality and affordability
19:22: A sommelier’s observations on changing wine behaviour
20:50 When to drink a wine and when to hold onto it?
21:57: The future of SA’s wine market
23:49: One wine moment that Wikus and Roy will never forget
26:46: Outro
Chapters
  • 00:00 Introduction to Wine in Focus
  • 00:38 Recognising the storms in Western Cape Winelands
  • 00:58 Introduction to guests
  • 01:56 The start of the wine journey for Wikus and Roy
  • 04:02 Collecting wine for investment or consumption
  • 05:00 How do you know that a wine is worth aging?
  • 06:08 How sommeliers avoid making selections on personal preference
  • 07:03 Never buy one bottle at a time: Lessons on purchasing
  • 08:00 The risks associated with investing in wine
  • 09:51 Liv-Ex Fine Wine 1000 Index: Wine returns on the sharp decline
  • 11:11 The reason behind falling wine prices
  • 13:17 “En primeur” explained: buying wine still in the barrel
  • 15:29 Wine regions and wine varietals worth noting
  • 17:22 2014 and 2023 deemed poor vintages but not across the board
  • 17:44 SA offers quality and affordability
  • 19:22 A sommelier’s observations on changing wine behaviour
  • 20:50 When to drink a wine and when to hold onto it?
  • 21:57 The future of SA’s wine market
  • 23:49 A singular wine moment that Wikus and Roy will never forget
  • 26:46 Outro
4 Jun English South Africa Business · Investing

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