Saturday, 11th October 2008

 

17 July 2008 - James Rutter

Champagne prices maintain their fizz

An index tracking the price of 25 of the top vintage Champagnes has risen 27% in the past year, outperforming the broader wine market as well as most equity markets.

The impressive gains posted by the Liv-Ex Champagne 25 index come on the back of record prices being paid for 1996 vintage bubbly from the likes of Krug, Louis Roederer Cristal and Dom Perignon.

The price of a 12 bottle case of 1996 Krug has risen from £1,500 a year ago to £2,350, an increase of 56%. The price of the same vintage of Dom Perignon is up 42% in the past year.

Compared with the top vintages of other wines, and Bordeaux first growths in particular, the best Champagnes remain relatively cheap. James Miles, founding director of wine exchange Liv-Ex, said: "The performance of the Liv-Ex Champagne 25 Index suggests that investors should take Champagne just as seriously as fine Bordeaux red wines when considering an investment in fine wine."

The Liv-Ex 100 index, which tracks the price of 100 of the most sought-after fine wines, was up 8.5% in the 12 months to the end of June.

Click to go to Liv-Ex website

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