I work as a Bordeaux wine guy. I’m never quite sure what to say about it. Am I a broker, or a retailer, or whatever? I’m not sure, but effectively what I do is sell wine from all over Bordeaux to private customers. That’s not just the expensive reds, I’m talking about the whites, the rosés, and the bubbles too. But naturally, for Bordeaux at least, it’s the top end reds that hold people’s attention.
Unfortunately it means dealing with one of my pet hates. Wine investors. Actually let me rephrase that, it’s what’s known as alternative asset investors, and more particularly ones that don’t understand what they’re doing or getting themselves into.
For me, wine is there to be drunk. But I’m a simple soul. I meet winemakers, I meet owners, and I drink wines. I personally think these guys make this stuff for me and my mates to drink it and get maximum pleasure out of it. But I’m not naïve enough to ignore that whenever the price tag starts to creep up then someone somewhere sees an opportunity for a fast buck.
In recent years of course the fine wine market has dropped in value. Too many investors holding onto that rising balloon have all tried to sell at the same time, and guess what happens? It’s the same with property speculators. I have no sympathy with anyone who loses money when all they were trying to do was make money. Especially when they then bad mouth the product because it’s clearly not them being idiotic sheep that’s meant the value has dropped a bit.
I have no desire to deal with investors. I want my clients to want to crack open the bottles I sell them and have a great time.
Here’s hoping.
Mike
I agree! I’ve seen wine that we used to enjoy go up dramatically and it’s the popularity that did it.
That’s it, if the price goes up because everyone wants to buy it and drink it then fair enough
Isn’t that sweet! Bordeaux wine is mighty fine. I’m afraid it wouldn’t be a good investment for us, we would just drink it all and enjoy it.
Leslie
Ha, that’s exactly why I can’t do it either 🙂
wow, what an interesting job. I don’t have much if a concept of that, it is a pretty small industry here- investing is always about Grange ( boring!).
I’m with you, wine is for drinking 🙂
Such a shame to think about isn’t it? All that beautiful Grange sat there in the bottle and nobody opening it…
Here here! I’m lucky enough to have a well stocked cellar – but that’s because we get through a fair bit of wine, and like to have something to match whatever whacky meal I come up with each night. Our wines are bought to be consumed. They remind us of the time & place where we bought them. It’s wonderful. 🙂
Best way to be! I would have a well stocked cellar were it not for the fact mine’s underneath my parents’ place and it’s subject to Dad Tax! 🙁
Hear hear! Wine is made to be enjoyed, a bottle hardly lasts a week in my place 🙂
Good work! 🙂
I’ll drink to that!
Totally agree – in my opinion the best collection of wine is one of empty bottles!
…but then you have to run the gauntlet as you take them out to the recycling and the neighbours are giving you those looks 🙂
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