- Bordeaux led the market, followed closely by Burgundy, Champagne and the USA.
- Two California Cabernet Sauvignons and two Champagnes feature amongst the top five wines by traded value.
- US buyers account for 50% of trade over the festive period.
Bordeaux’s share of traded value fell to 26.1% over the festive period (December 20th – January 2nd), down from its strong close the previous week at 38.1%. Still, the region led the market overall, with Château Lafite Rothschild 2021 featuring amongst the week’s top-traded wines by value.
Burgundy came in second place with a 21.0% share, just shy of its December average. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti accounted for almost a quarter of the region’s trade. Alongside individual cuvees, several 2020 assortment cases changed hands.
Champagne had a strong two weeks, taking an 18.2% share of the market. Louis Roederer led the charge, followed by Dom Pérignon and Bollinger. Across all wines, the 2015 and 2013 vintages were the top-traded by value.
The USA had its strongest two weeks in recent memory, overtaking Tuscany with a 12.7% share of traded value. Opus One was by far the region’s top-traded wine, with the 2021 vintage coming in as the top-traded wine overall. US buyers accounted for 60.7% of the region’s trade.
Tuscany took a 9.1% share of traded value. While Super Tuscans generally take centre stage, high volume trades of less expensive wines accounted for a greater share of the region’s trade over the past two weeks. Altesino was Tuscany’s top-traded producer, with three entries into the top five wines by traded volume overall.
Breakdown of buyer geography
US buyers accounted for 49.6% of all purchasing on the exchange over the past two weeks – significantly more than their 2024 share of 35.5%.
What were the top-traded wines?
Opus One 2021 came in as the top-traded wine by value and second top-traded by volume. In lower volumes, it traded around the £2,700 per 12×75 mark, and in high volumes at £2,598. The wine’s Market Price now sits at £2,752, 8.1% below its ex-London release at £2,995 earlier this year. The US Regional Benchmark, however, sits 36.5% above its release price at £4,087. Perhaps unsurprisingly, US buyers accounted for the majority of Opus One purchasing.
Regional Benchmarks of Opus One 2021
A second California Cabernet, Promontory 2016, also featured amongst the top-traded wines by value. Trade prices of the wine increased over the course of Q4 2024. At its low in August 2024, it changed hands at £6,000 per 12×75, and this week 30.0% higher at £7,800 – it’s highest trade price since early 2023.
Liv-ex trades of Promontory 2016
Cristal 2015, which spent several weeks amongst the top-traded wines in the final months of 2024, came in second place. While trade prices have been stable around £1,650 since the start of December, the wine’s Average List Price has ticked up notably.
Liv-ex trades of Cristal 2015
Top-traded wines by volume
Three Altesino Brunellos were amongst the top five wines by traded volume – the 2017 vintage of the Montosoli and the 2016 and 2017 vintages of the Riserva. Of the three, the 2016 Riserva, receiving a score of 96-96+ points from Monica Larner (Wine Advocate) trades most frequently. Trades over the past fortnight between £454 and £512 per 12×75 mark the wine’s lowest-ever prices.
Liv-ex trades of Altesino, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2016
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 620+ merchant members from across the globe. Together they represent the largest pool of liquidity in the world – currently £140m of bids and offers across 20,000 wines.
