- Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-St-Vivant Grand Cru, Château Lafite Rothschild and Pétrus are the most-searched-for wines in the first half of the year.
- The US market has been the most single-minded in its searches and the UK the most diverse.
- Most vintages of interest are post-2010.
High-end producers from Bordeaux and Burgundy have enjoyed the biggest global interest so far this year. On a brand level (LWIN7), wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild, and Pétrus have been the most-searched-for wines among Liv-ex’s almost 600 global members.
The most in-demand vintages have been relatively recent ones, post-2010. But when segmenting the searches by region – US, UK, Asia and Europe – different patterns of buying interest and shifting demand emerge.
Narrow focus in the USA and Asia
Some markets, like the USA, have been straightforward in their searches. All of the top 10 most-searched-for wines by USA merchants have been different vintages of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-St-Vivant Grand Cru. The 1999, which has a Market Price of £58,000 per 12×75, topped the rankings.
This marks a clear shift in buying interest, as US look-ups were the most diverse of all markets last year, featuring wines from Barbaresco, Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy.
Similarly, demand in Asia has been narrow and has continued to center around the First Growths. Last year, Mouton Rothschild was the most-searched-for wine, while in H1 2022, Lafite Rothschild took nine out of the top 10 spots.
The most-searched-for wine, however, has been Pierre Girardin Les Epenottes Beaune Premier Cru 2020, which has not yet been bid for or offered on Liv-ex. Increased promotion and brand marketing of the wine in mainland China appears to have led to a sustained level of interest among Asian buyers.
Diverse basket of searched-for wines in Europe and UK
The most-searched-for wines in Europe and the UK have been a more diverse bunch. Louis Roederer Cristal 2008, which has been the most traded wine so far this year, has been firmly in European buyers’ sights. The 2014, 2013 and 2012 vintages of Cristal and Dom Pérignon 2012, which feature in the table, reveal a heavy Champagne focus in Europe. Two vintages each of Sassicaia and Lafite fill out the rankings.
There are parallels between the European and the UK markets, with interest revolving around Champagne, Bordeaux First Growths and the Super Tuscans. The main difference in the UK, which represents the most diverse pool of wines, is Burgundy’s dominance. Four out of the top 10 wines come from the region, with the Domaine Armand Rousseau’s 2019 Chambertin Grand Cru (£52,671 per 12×75) in the lead.
Liv-ex analysis is drawn from the world’s most comprehensive database of fine wine prices. The data reflects the real time activity of Liv-ex’s 580+ merchant members from across the globe. Together they represent the largest pool of liquidity in the world – currently £100m of bids and offers across 16,000 wines. Independent data, direct from the market.
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