START-UP ADVICE

A wine’s vintage refers to the year in which
a particular wine’s grapes were harvested.
However, it is important to note that some
vintages are better than others. This is
because wine can be dramatically different
from year to year depending on a variety
of factors such as weather conditions and
harvesting time. It is wise to check out the
vintage charts available from the sources
below which can give you a good idea of the
quality of a specific vintage before purchasing
a wine.
- Robert Parker through the publication The
Wine Advocate, established in 1978.
- La Revue du Vin de France - A monthly
French wine publication dating back to 1927.
- Gault & Millau – An Influential French guide
to wines and hotels in France.
6. How to asses a wine’s condition
When both buying and selling wine there
are a number of factors to look out for to
ensure you are making the most out of
your investment. For example, a wine that
comes in its original wooden casing will be
more desirable. Wines with capsules, corks
and labels in perfect condition will also be
more valuable. The condition of the label is
particularly important. The level of the wine is
also important – the wine should come up and
into the bottle neck.
7. Collecting wine as an investment
Only a very small portion of the wine produced
worldwide can be considered for investment.
The market has shown a significant increase
over the past few years, with China fuelling its
expansion.
Unexpectedly, Hong Kong has become one of
the most significant places for wine auctions
in the world, overtaking London and New York
and setting record prices on a regular basis.
The abolition of wine duties in early 2008
by the city of Hong Kong was a key fact in
encouraging the main auction houses to start
organizing sales.
Bordeaux is the most popular choice among
Chinese and Asian buyers, but Burgundy
wines encounter success too. In November
2010, Christie’s sold 12 bottles of La Tâche
(Domaine de la Romanée-Conti), vintage 1990
for HK$936,000 (£76,000).
Value My Stuff is an online valuation service
which enables customers to take photos of
their items which they can then upload directly
onto the site where, within just 48 hours, they
will receive a valuation report from one of
over 62 experts. Many of the experts are ex
Sotheby’s, Christie’s or Bonhams and cover
every area from aboriginal art and ceramics
through to sport, music and film memorabilia,
stamps, coins, toys and more. Prices start from
£10.00 per item valued.
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