CAPITAL VINTNERS MARKET REPORT: Nigeria
Nigeria is now Africa’s second largest economy in Africa and will be the world’s fourth most populous nation by 2050. More importantly it has been reported that Nigeria’s wine industry will reach £230 million by 2015. With an economy that is finding its feet – GDP has increased from $46 billion in 2000 to $247 billion […]
CAPITAL VINTNERS: EYE ON ASIA
A Hong Kong auction at Sotheby’s last weekend may have signified a further string to the Asian fine wine market’s bow being added as Rhône Valley wines fared very well. On December 8 the auction’s highlights included a 1961 Hermitage La Chapelle from Rhône, which sold for £13,700 a bottle, 165 per cent higher than the […]
Parker steps down as editor-in-chief of Wine Advocate
Robert Parker Jr – the world’s most renowned wine critic – has stepped down as editor-in-chief of the influential publication, the Wine Advocate. A percentage of the magazine has been sold to three Asian investors (unnamed so far). The Wine Advocate headquarters will remain in America, but a large office will be set up in Singapore, […]
Eye on Asia: INDIA SPECIAL
After China blew the roof off the fine wine market in 2010, the industry has been looking for the next big economy to lead the way. It might have found that economy in the shape of India. The Indian wine market has been growing at around 25-30 per cent annually and, according to experts, will […]
Yet another Bordeaux estate bought by Chinese tycoon
The Chinese taste for buying up French wine estates has not ceased, with news of yet another Chinese businessman buying Chateau Bellefont-Belcier. More importantly Bellefont-Belcier has Grande Cru Classe status, making it the first one under Chinese ownership. Herve Olivier, the regional director of SAFER – a government agency that oversees rural land development – believes […]
Bordeaux finally names wine cultural centre
After three long years of waiting for a name, the Bordeaux wine cultural centre finally has one: the City of Civilisations Wine (Cite des Civilisations de Vin). The centre’s budget is 63 million euros and is due to open in 2015. Project manager Philippe Massol has reported that construction will take place by April 2013 with […]
White Burgundies and Bordeaux excel over the weekend at auction
Once again Burgundies steal the show and top the auction lists. This weekend auctions at Sotheby’s in New York and Zachys’ in Hong Kong both saw high figures, especially for white Bordeaux and Burgundies. Highlights of the New York auction included a 10-bottle case of 1988 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet for £29,000 and three […]
Capital Vintners: Champagne 2012 report
The Champagne region of France, just like Bordeaux and Burgundy, did not have a good year weather-wise and suffered a smaller harvest than usual. But initial reports indicate the 2012 Champagne vintage could be a very good one. The chefs de cave at both Louis Roederer and Perrier-Jouet have expressed their excitement in anticipation of […]
Capital Vintners: Champagne 2012 Report Continued
Is Champagne bucking the trend of ‘austerity Britain’? It would appear so. Champagne was hit hard during the economic slump but it would appear that it is now recovering and seeing high sales numbers. Champagne is often called the ‘affordable luxury’ and more and more these days it is losing its ‘special occasion’ status. Low-price supermarket deals, […]
Capital Vintners: Eye on Asia
Burgundies ended the year strongly in a Hong Kong auction this weekend. Domaine de la Romanee-Conti. Remember this wine estate because it is breaking records right now. Three 2005 bottles were sold at a record-breaking price of £14,800 a bottle at an auction in Hong Kong over the weekend. £3.8 million of wine was sold at […]
