The Liv-ex 1000 Index – the broadest measure of the fine wine market – closed February 2017 at another new high of 303.15. This is an increase of 0.6% on January’s close of 301.24 – the previous all-time high of the index. It has now reached record highs for seven consecutive months and is up 21.6% year-on-year.
The index previously reached a high of 279.69 in July 2011 at the peak of the China-led bull market. It then fell 13.3% before hitting a low of 242.6 in August 2014.
Amongst the Liv-ex 1000 sub-indices, Burgundy has been leading the charge. Over one year the Burgundy 150 index (+25.9%) has increased the most, outpacing the Bordeaux Legends 50 (+22.8%).
The Champagne 50 was the best performing sub-index this month, up 1.8%. The Italy 100 and the Rest of the World 50 recorded small declines of 0.3% and 0.1% respectively.
The Bordeaux 500 index – which tracks the price movements of the ten most recent physical vintages of 50 top Bordeaux Chateaux – is up 21.8% year-on-year. By sub-index, the Second Wines 50 index is the highest riser, up 31.3% over one year. The seconds have outperformed the First Growths: the Fine Wine 50 is up 25% over the same period.
The Sauternes 50 is the slowest mover of the sub-indices, but is still up 6.9% over the same period.
