Fine Wine Investment the Toast of 2013, but Buy from Trusted Merchants says Berry Bros and BWC Management & Consulting

LONDON, ENGLAND, March 24, 2013 (Press-News.org) With reports of returns as high as 176 percent between 2000 and 2012, investors are now looking towards the fine wine investment market as a way of hedging against inflation and economic downturn that has befallen a majority of the world financial markets.

Prices of IGW's (investment grade wines) fell in 2012 but a majority of investors and speculators have taken a view that prices will rise in 2013 and continue to regain over the next 2 years, therefore good profits can be achieved during this period.

The industry benchmark price tracking exchange Liv-ex reported on March 1st that its Live-ex fine wine 100 index, has appreciated by 3.1 percent in February alone. The overall performance of its wine price tracking indices suggests a revived interest and increased activity in wine investing this year, following last year's decline.

As always a majority of investors will be opting for good vintage premier Cru Bordeaux, which account for almost 90 percent of IGW's, though some investors are looking towards Super Tuscans and Burgundies too.

As with any investment market, when investing in wine, there are certain precautions that must be taken, one being trading with a merchant or broker with a track record for delivering the goods. Daniel Paterson, portfolio manager at BWC Management & Consulting, fine wine brokers, advises, "Any wine you buy for investment must have a good reputation and long track record of success. When in doubt, take advice from those in the industry but make sure you stick to blue chip wines, the first growths, as they are consistent and proven; buy early, preferably en primeur but only from established merchants". On that subject Sara Guiducci, private account manager at Berry bros & Rudd, the oldest wine merchants in the UK, advises investors they must deal with a merchant they trust, "They should have a long history of trading and can offer historical data, as well as being able to explain how they see current trends in the global markets".

So the verdict on the future of the market is good, buy wine for safer investment but make sure you buy from merchants or brokers with a history of delivering the goods.

Website: http://www.bwcmanagement.co.uk