Cellar kings: You should know these top 5 wine collectors
For some, wine is a pleasure, for others it is almost a passion. The second category clearly includes wine collectors who own hundreds or even thousands of bottles. Many wine lovers and collectors tend to keep their cellar treasures secret and are therefore barely known to the public. However, there are some personalities who impress with their wine collections and their commitment to the wine sector. Find out which fine-wine investors have made a name for themselves in the industry.
The “typology” of wine collectors
First of all, there are very different reasons not only to enjoy good wine, but also to invest a lot of money, time and effort in storing it. There are the enthusiasts, for example: They collect from the passion and joy of discovering and tasting different wines. Their wine selection is often characterized by a wide range of different wine regions and wineries. Die Investors, on the other hand, see wines primarily as an investment and part of their diversification strategy. They are usually looking for wines that are available at reasonable prices and have good potential for appreciation. Or they focus on rare or limited edition wines that are traded at auctions. Wine connoisseurs specialize in a particular region or grape variety and let their deep knowledge and experience be reflected in their collection. They are looking for high-quality wines and have a strong understanding of the intricacies of wine, meaning that their collections often develop a specific thematic focus. And then there are collectors who want to complete their wine collection and focus primarily on specific vintages or fine wines from specific wineries or winemakers.
These are the top 5 wine collectors in the world
Since many wine collections remain largely hidden from the public, there is no “official” top 5 list of the most famous wine collectors. But some “legends” have made a name for themselves in the industry.
- Hardy Rodenstock
The German music publisher, artist agent, wine connoisseur, dealer and collector of old and rare wines, who died in 2018, became known for two reasons: He had a knack for finding rare wines and he organized extravagant wine tastings in the 1980s. In 1985, he discovered over a dozen wine bottles from the 18th century (the so-called Jefferson bottles). One of them was a Chateau Lafite Rothschild from 1787 with the engraving “Th:J”, which is assumed to belong to Thomas Jefferson. He sold it to Bill Koch at auction for 156,000 dollars. However, there is a persistent Debate over the authenticity of the bottle. The name Rodenstock was at least fictitious: The wine collector was born as Meinhard Görke and later acquired a stage name.
- William “Bill” Koch
The US entrepreneur and multi-billionaire Koch has allegedly been the victim of counterfeit wines three times already. As a passionate collector, he probably owns around 40,000 wines, some of which are very old and expensive. The well-known English auction house Sotheby's has already offered wines from Koch's cellar several times. In 2016, these were 20,000 bottles of absolute rarities from famous wineries such as Château Latour, Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Mouton-Rothschild and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Bill Koch But he also has other passions: He is a passionate sailor and winner of the 1992 America's Cup and also an important art collector who owns works by Cézanne, Dali, Monet, Picasso, Renoir and Rodin, among others, and valuable antiques worth several hundred million dollars.
- Thomas Jefferson
The third president of the USA was a passionate wine drinker and is often regarded as one of the first American wine collectors. His passion for wine and his education probably came about when he studied law and lived with statesman and lawyer George Wythe, who was a big fan of top European wines. In 1785, Jefferson moved to Paris and traveled to Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Provence. He also spent some time in the Italian region of Piedmont and discovered the magic of Barolos and Barbarescos. Before becoming president, Jefferson was George Washington's wine consultant and buyer and supplied Washington's cellar with champagne and Bordeaux wine bottles.
- Gene Mulvihill
The winner of the Wine Spectator Grand Award, who died in 2012, was the owner of the Latour restaurant in New Jersey and, with around 135,000 bottles, owned one of the largest wine collections in the world. Mulvihill's handpicked bottles include: 100 vintages (1863-2009) from Chateau Latour as well as vertical selections from Château Lafite Rothschild, Ausone, Haut Brion, Cheval Blanc, Margaux and Petrus. Nice to know: Mulvihill guarantees that none of its wines have a cork flavor or oxidation. This is because there is a nuclear magnetic resonance laboratory in which the chemical composition and acetic acid content are determined using various devices without affecting the wines.
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
Many may only know Andrew Lloyd Webber as a famous English composer and producer of musicals such as “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Cats,” and “Evita.” But Webber is also a big and very successful wine collector. Thanks to his aunt and uncle, who loved Italian wines, he came into contact with wine culture early on. When he was around ten years old, he tried a Barolo, and as a teenager he already considered himself a wine collector — and was proved right: A few decades later, in 2011, Webber sold 8,837 French wine bottles at a Auction in China and generated proceeds of around 5,600,000 dollars. He keeps his portfolio of fine, rare wines in ultra-modern cellars at his home in Hampshire.
Investing in wine
Collections such as those of the wine enthusiasts mentioned above are probably realistic for very few enthusiasts or wine investors. On the one hand, because the budget for mere purchase and professional storage would run into the millions, and on the other hand because many coveted bottles are simply not available on the market. And even if so, a great deal of expertise is required to avoid falling victim to “fraudulent labeling.” That is why it is particularly interesting for beginning wine investors digital real value shares to consider. In this way, fine wine lovers can “enjoy” possible price increases for fine wines without having to make the effort of a wine collector.
