In modern times a new dynamic is speeding up the rarity as well as increasing the prices, wine critics. The most notable being Robert Parker Jr.
He is acknowledged to be the most influential wine critic in the world. He publishes his reviews in his magazine, The Wine Advocate which has been published since 1978. There are 40,000 subscribers in each American state ad well as being published across 38 Countries. This publication is referred to as the "Wine Bible" due to it's religious following.
His simple scoring system is easy to follow. He scores wines between 50 - 100 points. This score represents the quality of a wine which then directly influences demand as fine wine consumers and investors compete to own the very best wines.
In modern times a new dynamic is speeding up the rarity as well as increasing the prices, wine critics. The most notable being Robert Parker Jr.
He is acknowledged to be the most influential wine critic in the world. He publishes his reviews in his magazine, The Wine Advocate which has been published since 1978. There are 40,000 subscribers in each American state ad well as being published across 38 Countries. This publication is referred to as the "Wine Bible" due to it's religious following.
His simple scoring system is easy to follow. He scores wines between 50 - 100 points. This score represents the quality of a wine which then directly influences demand as fine wine consumers and investors compete to own the very best wines.
FINE WINE CRITICS
Fine wines rises in value due to two factors, restricted supply and ever growing demand. The best wines are produced in limited quantities which puts an immediate strain on their already finite supply. As the wines are consumed they quickly become rarer. Over time as the supply depletes, the demand overtakes whats available on the market and the prices naturally rise.
Bordeaux wines are the most famous and sought after. The French government restricts the amount of wine each each producer is allowed to yield which immediately creates a supply and demand dynamic. The government restrictions on wine production were introduced by Napoleon III which remains virtually unchanged.
In 1855 Napoleon III requested France's wine brokers to come up with a system that would allow foreign visitors to be able to easily identify the Country's best wines. This is when the Official Bordeaux classification was born. Wines were ranked based on their importance, from First Growth to Fifth Growth. Wines that are First Growth are naturally more in demand as they are viewed as the best .
In modern times a new dynamic is speeding up the rarity as well as increasing the prices, wine critics. The most notable critic of them all being Robert Parker Jr.
Robert Parker Jr is acknowledged to be the most influential wine critic in the world. He publishes his reviews in his magazine, The Wine Advocate which has been in production 1978. There are over 40,000 subscribers for The Wine Advocate in each American state as well as being published in 38 Countries. This publication is referred to as the "Wine Bible" because Robert Parker Jr's reviews are followed religiously by the wine community.
His simple wine scoring system is easy to follow. Wines are given a score between 50 - 100 points. Although his score directly reflects a wine's quality, it indirectly influences the demand as fine wine investors and consumers will compete to own/drink the the very best wines. Robert Parker Jr has issued less that 20 perfect 100 scores to Bordeaux producers over the last 40 years.
THE FINE WINE MARKET EXPLAINED
Fine wines rises in value due to two factors, restricted supply and ever growing demand. The best wines are produced in limited quantities which puts an immediate strain on their already finite supply. As the wines are consumed they quickly become rarer. Over time as the supply depletes, the demand overtakes whats available on the market and the prices naturally rise.
Bordeaux wines are the most famous and sought after. The French government restricts the amount of wine each each producer is allowed to yield which immediately creates a supply and demand dynamic. The government restrictions on wine production were introduced by Napoleon III which remains virtually unchanged.
In 1855 Napoleon III requested France's wine brokers to come up with a system that would allow foreign visitors to be able to easily identify the Country's best wines. This is when the Official Bordeaux classification was born. Wines were ranked based on their importance, from First Growth to Fifth Growth. Wines that are First Growth are naturally more in demand as they are viewed as the best .
Fine wines rises in value due to two factors, restricted supply and ever growing demand. The best wines are produced in limited quantities which puts an immediate strain on their already finite supply. As the wines are consumed they quickly become rarer. Over time as the supply depletes, the demand overtakes whats available on the market and the prices naturally rise.
Bordeaux wines are the most famous and sought after. The French government restricts the amount of wine each each producer is allowed to yield which immediately creates a supply and demand dynamic. The government restrictions on wine production were introduced by Napoleon III which remains virtually unchanged.
In 1855 Napoleon III requested France's wine brokers to come up with a system that would allow foreign visitors to be able to easily identify the Country's best wines. This is when the Official Bordeaux classification was born. Wines were ranked based on their importance, from First Growth to Fifth Growth. Wines that are First Growth are naturally more in demand as they are viewed as the best .
FINE WINE CRITICS
FINE WINE CRITICS
FINE WINE CRITICS
FINE WINE CRITICS
SECURE STORAGE & INSURANCE
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Viticult utilises the award winning storage services of the London City Bond (LCB), who have provided professional bonded storage to merchants, collectors, and institutions for over 150 years.
Climate Controlled Facilities
Their climate-controlled facilities are designed specifically for the long-term storage of fine wine, ensuring stable temperature and humidity levels that allows for wines to mature perfectly over time. This is vital for preserving the wine’s structure, complexity, and character, which develop gradually and delicately as the wine ages. By maintaining ideal conditions, the wine matures as intended by the producer—enhancing its appeal to future buyers and maximising its resale value on the secondary market. Proper storage goes beyond simple preservation; it’s essential to realising the wine’s full value as a financial asset.
Insurance & Security
Every wine is fully insured at market value, providing peace of mind against damage or loss and clients benefit from round-the-clock online access to their portfolio via a secure, two-factor authenticated portal. With a long history of reliability and excellence, the LCB helps us deliver on our promise to safeguard your portfolio and eliminate risk at every stage.
UK-Wide Coverage
London City Bond offers an extensive network of storage facilities across the UK, providing secure, climate-controlled environments for fine wine in every key region. Their presence spans London and the South East, with major hubs in Wiltshire for underground and specialist storage, and a strong foothold in the Midlands through sites in Burton-upon-Trent and Fradley Park. Facilities in Cambridge serve the East of England, while locations in Leeds and Glasgow ensure full coverage across the North of England and Scotland. This nationwide infrastructure guarantees not only optimal storage conditions, but also efficient logistics and regional accessibility for clients throughout the UK.
Learn More
Discover the world behind your wine investment by watching London City Bond’s official video. This short film offers a rare look inside the secure, climate-controlled facilities where wines are professionally stored and cared for.
London City Bond was named "Best Wine Storage Company" at the 2025 Drinks Business Awards, recognizing their exceptional commitment to quality and service in fine wine storage.