Fine Wine Market Shows Early Signs of Stabilisation – Buyers Still in Control

The fine wine market is showing its first signs of resilience after nearly three years of decline, according to a recent post on Liv-Ex. . For now, however, it remains a buyer’s market, offering opportunities for collectors to secure highly regarded vintages while the market adjusts.

Champagne Leads Weekly Trading

Trading on Liv-ex this week highlighted the strength of Champagne in a cooling market.

• Comtes de Champagne 2014 and Jacques Selosse Millésime 2008 were the top-traded wines by value, propelling Champagne into second place in market share, slightly ahead of Burgundy.

• Bordeaux also demonstrated renewed activity, with Château Mouton Rothschild 2015 among the most traded First Growths.

These developments highlight a market where certain regions, particularly Champagne, continue to capture buyers’ attention even in a slower environment.

Fine Wine 50 Rises for the First Time in Three Years

The Liv-ex Fine Wine 50, which tracks the ten most recent vintages of the Bordeaux First Growths, recorded a 0.7% increase in September. This marks the first month-on-month rise in three years, suggesting that the market may be finding its footing after an extended downturn.

Having retreated to levels not seen since before the 2020 rally, the index has stabilised at a point historically regarded as a support zone. With technical indicators pointing to oversold conditions, confidence among buyers appears to be returning.

Vintage-Level Shifts

• 2021 Vintages:
  Among the hardest hit during the downturn, these wines are now showing signs of stabilisation, indicating that selling pressure may have eased.

• 2017 Vintages:
  Similarly challenged in recent years, but have shown renewed buyer interest, with most labels moving off their lows.

• 2022 Vintages:
  Despite strong critical acclaim, these wines entered a more cautious market and saw early corrections. Their adjustment appears to be happening more rapidly than previous vintages, suggesting they may reach stable ground sooner.

A Market at a Turning Point

The rise in the Fine Wine 50 hints that the prolonged slide in the fine wine market may be nearing its end. For now, buyers remain in control, particularly in younger Bordeaux vintages and selected Champagne labels.

For collectors and investors, the current environment offers a compelling window to acquire top names before confidence fully returns and competition for rare bottles intensifies.