Factors that make wine valuable

If you’re thinking about purchasing wine, or have started building a collection, it’s important to understand what factors determine the value of a bottle of wine and its potential as an investment. Below, we’ve outlined the top five factors to look for:

The producer of the wine.
Out of more than 2 million wine producers in the world, there are only about 500 that are known for providing the quality of wine that would increase in value over time. For the most part, producers in France, Italy, and California make the majority of investment-worthy wines.
How much of the wine is available.
The more scarce the wine, the higher its potential for increasing in value. Wines can become scarce either because they are consumed over time or because there was only a small amount produced in the first place.
The vintage of the wine.
Because grapes can be extremely sensitive and complex, small fluctuations in weather conditions can make or break a vintage. The perfect balance is difficult to achieve and maintain from year to year. Therefore, when ideal conditions allow for a perfect balance, that vintage can become very valuable.
The wine’s maturity.
Wines from great vintages typically age better than those of lesser vintages. Therefore, the longer it lasts, the more valuable it can become.
How critics score the wine.
While many wine purists abhor wine critic scores, those scores definitely affect the value of a wine. Top critics like Jancis Robinson continue to influence perceptions of wine and their collectability with even slight adjustments to scores.