If you are a wine lover, or if you want to collect or invest in wine, these are the wines you should be investing in right now.
We caught up with Wine Cellar Director and wine judge Roland Peens to get his insight on South African fine wine as a new investment category.
Peens says South African fine wine is gaining momentum as an alternative investment class.
“Intrinsic wine quality is at an all-time high as we enter a new era of industry-wide, quality-focused winemaking. Smaller producers and larger historical properties are harnessing young and old vines with a deeper understanding than ever before,” he says.
Below are Peens's wine picks you should be investing in.
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015. Supplied
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015
Consistency in quality is key to investment potential and no other South African wine has been more consistent. Paul Sauer was South Africa’s first positive growth investment wine since the 90’s with a stream of regular local and international awards. The latest and probably the most impressive of accolades is the perfect 100 points from Tim Atkin, international Master of Wine, who releases an extensive annual report on South African wines. Covering wine regions all around the world, this is Atkin’s first perfect score in the New World.
Meerlust Rubicon 2015. Supplied
Meerlust Rubicon 2015
Rubicon is arguably South Africa’s greatest wine brand. Produced in significant volume and with an impressive distribution network, Meerlust has built up incredible brand equity over the last four decades. The quality of Rubicon hasn’t quite matched its status however, well not until the 2015 vintage. The greatest modern day vintage, combined with maturing vineyards and a refinement in winemaking has pushed the Rubicon to a new level.
Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon 2015. Supplied
Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Traditionally the wines of Bordeaux have been the best investment vehicles due to their unparalleled quality and long-term aging potential. Cabernet Sauvignon is also king in Stellenbosch and Thelema has been a leading example of Cab Sav production since the early 1990s. Their 2015 is again arguably their finest yet and will age well for two decades. The price of Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon has been increasing below inflation over the last five years and we believe it is under-priced in the market.
Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2015. Supplied
Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
With the average price of Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon close to the R400 mark, Alto is another wine that we feel is under-priced. Distell has finally realised the potential of this property and is investing in future quality. The 2015 provides momentum for it to regain the status it enjoyed in the 70s when it was atop of the industry.
Sadie Family T’Voetpad 2017. Supplied
Sadie Family T’Voetpad 2017
Eben Sadie is South Africa’s best and most famous winemaker and the wines in his Old Vine series all offer an excellent investment proposition. Produced in tiny quantities and snapped up on release every year, they quickly see the secondary market at great returns. The T’Voetpad is South Africa’s oldest vineyard and produces a majestic, world-class white wine that will age for decades.
Restless River Cabernet Sauvignon 2015. Supplied/ Hansie Oosthuizen
Restless River Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Not considered a ‘blue-chip’ stock, we feel the rising star of Restless River is an outside bet for great returns. Craig and Anne Wessels planted Cabernet Sauvignon in the Hemel-en-Aarde 20 years ago, going against the trend of a prolific local Pinot noir culture. The great 2015 vintage, refinement of winemaking and maturing vines have produced a simply sensational Cabernet Sauvignon.