Straight answers,
by topic.

Fine wine is a popular option for collectors and investors alike. Performance has historically been strong with relatively low volatility, and as a real asset it offers diversification from traditional markets - though past performance is never a guarantee.

Wine is like property or any other physical asset - when you buy fine wine you physically own a tangible asset with intrinsic value, regardless of the economic climate.

You’re very welcome to. We operate an open-door policy for clients and anyone looking to get involved - and if travel is difficult, we can meet you at a location of your choice.

The main risk is poor selection - buying inferior-quality wine, or a wine in high supply and low demand, may mean your investment fails to increase in value. Fine wine is also illiquid and its value can fall. Good selection and a sensible hold are how we manage that.

We don’t promise a return - nobody honestly can. Fine wine has historically performed well with relatively low volatility, but values can fall as well as rise and past performance is not a guide to the future. We’d rather set realistic expectations than sell you a number.

As long as you can comfortably afford to - there’s no minimum or maximum, but we suggest a 3-5 year hold as a sensible starting point. The longer a fine wine is held, the scarcer it tends to become as it matures, which can support its value. None of this is guaranteed.

We charge a 10% fee on the net profit made when you sell. Our sales and broking service is performance-related, so our payment is contingent on your success. All stock prices are set in-house and carry a commercial mark-up and purchase premium; the same wine may be available elsewhere at a higher or lower price.

Wine stored in our segregated client accounts is free for the first 5 years, then £8 per case per year thereafter. Your wine is fully insured by the storage provider throughout.

All major card providers, plus an FCA-licensed and regulated escrow service operating a Client Account. Your funds are held independently and securely during the transaction, and only released to us once the wine is confirmed ready for transfer (or purchased from an accredited supplier, if not already in stock).

In the UK, fine wine is often treated as a “wasting asset”, which can mean no capital gains tax for many collectors. This depends on your circumstances and isn’t tax advice - please see our tax guidelines and consult a qualified adviser.

Of course - though we wouldn’t necessarily advise it if the wine is held as an investment. If you do, be aware of the charges: 20% VAT plus around £2 per bottle duty (depending on HMRC rates and ABV at the time). For example, a case of Montrose 2010 with an In Bond price of £1,850 would cost £2,248.80, plus any delivery.

Fine wine should be kept dark, cool and dry at a steady temperature around 12°C, with humidity typically 75-80%, away from direct sunlight and vibration. Poor storage can permanently reduce quality and value - which is why we use professional bonded warehousing. More on provenance.

We recommend an independent, HMRC-approved bonded warehouse. These give you your own private account number and a unique rotation number each time wine is added; clients receive stock listings, can request condition reports, and can visit the facilities by prior arrangement. More on storage.

You can, but we don’t recommend it for wine bought for future resale. Investment wines should be kept in a bonded, controlled environment to maintain provenance.

Your wine is fully insured by the bonded storage provider. In the unlikely event of loss or damage you’ll be offered a replacement of equivalent value - or, if a replacement isn’t available, the cash value of your wine.

Definitely. Your wine is stored privately and securely at one of our bonded warehouses, and you can book an appointment to view your portfolio at any time. You can also request condition reports, with images saved to your private client portal.

Not at all. Your wine sits in your own bonded account - ownership is yours and you’re in complete control of your assets. If anything happened to our company, you would still have all of your wine.

When you want to exit, we can help in several ways. For the quickest route, we can sell your stock through our broad client base - or make you an offer ourselves - quickly and easily.