Skip to main content

Fine wine prices continue to rise as markets react to new Covid-19 variant

By December 3, 2021Fine Wine Market, Indices
  • The Liv-ex 100 index rose 2.7% in November.
  • This is the 18th consecutive month of gains for the fine wine market’s benchmark index.
  • Wines from Burgundy and Champagne fuelled the rise.

Fine wine resists new Covid variant that sends markets tumbling

A global shift away from risk assets, prompted by the new Covid-19 variant Omicron, did not affect the fine wine market’s longest bull-run to date.
The industry’s benchmark, the Liv-ex 100 Fine Wine Index, rose 2.7% in November to close at 382.59. The index has risen consistently for the past 18 months, surpassing the record set in June 2011.
Fine wine has once again proven itself a stable investment, compared to financial, oil and stock markets which had a very volatile November.
For more on fine wine investment, read our introductory guide.
Liv-ex 100 vs equities in the last six months

*made with the Liv-ex Charting tool.

Burgundy and Champagne play a defining role in price rises

Some of the best performing wines in November, which contributed to another month of steady gains, were vintage Champagne and high-end Burgundy.
Domaine Armand Rousseau, Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2016 was the biggest price riser in November, up 43%. Earlier in the month, the wine traded at an all-time high of £36,000 per 12×75.
Armand Rousseau, Chambertin Clos de Beze 2016 trades on Liv-ex

Other wines from Burgundy which were on the move included Domaine Armand Rousseau, Chambertin 2015 and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche 2015, up by 11% each.
Champagne was led by the performance of Krug 2004, which rose 11%, along with Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2008 (10%), Dom Pérignon 2008 (9%) and Louis Roederer Cristal 2009 (8%).
Ahead of the holiday season, Château d’Yquem 2001 has enjoyed increased trading activity and rising prices. The wine went up 13% in November. Yquem 2001 has been the most traded wine from Sauternes.
Yquem 2001 trades on Liv-ex

About Liv-ex indices

The Liv-ex Fine Wine 100 Index is the industry leading benchmark. It represents the price movement of 100 of the most sought-after fine wines on the secondary market from France, Italy, USA, Australia and Spain.
The index is calculated using the Liv-ex Mid Price, which refers to the mid-point between the highest live bid and lowest live offer on the market. The prices are validated against additional data including transaction prices and are the most robust measure for pricing wines available in the market.
The reason for this is because other sources of fine wine price information and indices base their calculations on list prices. These are advertised prices, often collected from sellers who may be advertising wine that they don’t even have in stock. There is no firm commitment to buy or sell at an advertised price. The real value of the wine may be higher or lower than listed.
Liv-ex can uniquely provide prices from real transactions among the wine trade. These are historic trade prices, as well as firm commitments to buy or sell on the market at a given price. All transactions are standardised by condition and tax status, allowing you to make like-for-like comparisons. Our members value this because it is real, proven price information.
Not a member of Liv-ex? Request a demo to see the exchange and a member of our team will be in touch with you shortly.