In the fine wine market, Bordeaux once again asserted its dominance, claiming 30.0% of the traded value, reinforcing its status as the leading region.
Among Bordeaux wines, Château Mouton Rothschild was the top-traded by overall value, although Château Angelus 2012 outperformed others as the most popular individual vintage.
Burgundy maintained its strong presence with a 27.7% share of the market, following closely behind Bordeaux. Notably, Burgundy saw several trades of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s 2020 Assortment—packed as 6×75 OWC cases with one bottle each of Romanee-Conti and La Tâche, alongside two bottles of Échezeaux and Romanee-Saint-Vivant. This rare assortment comprised a significant 29.4% of Burgundy's trade volume, demonstrating the high value collectors place on this prestigious producer.
Champagne experienced a dip, with its share dropping to 13.0% from 15.6% the previous week. However, Dom Pérignon continued to drive Champagne’s performance, especially due to high demand for its 2015 Tribute to Jean-Michel Basquiat edition and the 2013 flagship release.
Spain’s trade share remained relatively stable at 4.2%, supported almost entirely by Vega Sicilia, which comprised a striking 88.3% of Spain’s traded value and contributed 3.7% to the overall market. Popular Spanish vintages included Vega Sicilia Unico, Valbuena 5.° 2018, and Pintia 2017, showcasing the enduring appeal of these wines in international markets.
The USA saw a notable decrease in its market presence, with its trade share declining from 6.0% to 3.3% over the week. Previously robust trades of Opus One and Screaming Eagle dwindled, contributing to the region’s subdued performance. The drop may partly reflect a shift in attention, as U.S. buyers accounted for only 25.4% of all purchases on the exchange this week—down from 37.6%—likely as focus turned towards the presidential election.
In summary, Bordeaux and Burgundy remain the pillars of the fine wine market, while Champagne, Spain, and the USA saw more varied performance. Collectors and investors continue to show a preference for the classics, with a strong emphasis on rare and prestigious labels.
Source: Liv-ex