2016 has been fascinating. Set in the context of global political and economic shifts, the fine wine market has turned a corner. With one working day until the end of the year, the Liv-ex Fine Wine 50 has gained 26.9% – a sharp increase after four years of decline and one year of flatlining. The Liv-ex 100 is up 24.3% so far, vastly exceeding average merchant estimations of a 5.4% rise.
Throughout, the Liv-ex blog has aimed to provide regular updates and analysis on the fine wine market. Below, we share some of our most viewed posts of 2016.
Most popular analysis:
1. Five times that Robert Parker moved the Bordeaux market
This year’s most viewed post came in April when we looked back at five key moments that reviews from Robert Parker moved the Bordeaux market.
2. Margaux 2015 and Pavillon Rouge released
Our second most popular post announced the release of Margaux 2015, the fine wine trade’s wine of the vintage.
3. Where next for Parker’s 100-point wines?
How have Parker-perfect 100 point wines performed over the last five years? To find out, we created an index.
4. Bordeaux 2015: the increases are increasing
The only way is up. Keep on moving. Reach [for the stars]. These were all candidates for cheesy musical references in a post that showed how price increases for Bordeaux 2015 kept on rising. But it didn’t stop there. To see how this chart looked at the end of the campaign – after the increases continued to increase – view our concluding post here.
5. Power 100
The 2015 Power 100 – our annual list of the most powerful brands in fine wine – was also among the most viewed posts this year. Earlier in December, we released the 2016 list, topped by Lafite Rothschild. You can find it here.
Interviews in 2016:
This year, we had the pleasure of interviewing a diverse range of wine industry figures. In March Mouton Rothschild’s Phillip Dhalluin told us about developments at the estate and his views on the market. Later we caught up with Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth on wine criticism, his favourite regions, and Bordeaux – “There’s 2010 and then there’s everything else”.
David Pearson of Opus One talked pricing and markets, while in a two-part interview, our discussion with Tim Atkin MW spanned wine writing, South Africa, Bordeaux, climate change, dinosaurs…
In November, wine consultant Michel Rolland shared fascinating insights on his career, winemaking philosophy and the wine business, concluding: “I am a follower of trends. The market is always right.”
Finally, Giovanni Geddes da Filicaja of Masseto e Ornellaia explained the development and separation of the two brands in an interview published at the end of last month.
Bordeaux harvest updates
Guest blogger and Bordeaux wine maker Gavin Quinney kept us up-to-date with this year’s growing season and harvest with his series of articles. To view the latest – Quantity and quality – click here.
Looking ahead
2017 is looking to be another eventful year for fine wine. Burgundy En Primeur is around the corner – and the Bordeaux 2016 campaign is just a few months away. The quality of the vintage is tipped to be high. Like this year, coverage on the blog will be extensive and timely.
As ever, the Liv-ex Blog is your source of information direct from the fine wine market. Thank you to the record number of visitors from around the world this year. We hope that you have enjoyed – and will continue to enjoy – reading into 2017.
From everyone at Liv-ex, we wish you a prosperous new year.
[mc4wp_form id=”18204″]
