Wine is quickly becoming a lucrative investment and according to the Telegraph, “Fine wine boasts one of the best performing asset classes of the last 20 years.” Even if you don't plan on purchasing for resale later, spending money on putting away top-quality wines for the later years allows you the freedom of buying en masse and discovering the improvements for yourself.
Don’t look abroad to invest your money, South Africa is producing world-class wines that deserve a place in your collection.
Earlier this year, Groot Constantia’s 2013 Chardonnay was voted the best in the world at Chardonnay du monde and Kanonkop’s winemaker Abri Beeslaar was recently crowned as the International Winemaker of the Year during the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) gala award ceremony in London. With a wealth of award-winners at your disposal, it would be easy to get flustered by what to store and for how long, so we’ve done the hard work for you and picked 5 consistently good wines from stellar wineries to start your collection with.
Vergelegen
This stunning estate boasts a 300 year old history and has been under ownership of some of the world's great explorers and visionaries.
The Vergelegen V 2011 is a complex red blend with aromas of raspberry, black cherry, spice and a hint of gaminess. Its fine-grained tannins will open up over the years and they suggest up to 20 years of cellar storing.
Meerlust
Meerlust Rubicon is such an iconic South African wine and has been the collectable wine of choice for many. Meerlust say that the best wines to store would be those based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Rubicon with its generally Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend is a real keeper as well as their 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. If stored correctly these wines can age for up to 20 years, however, they generally drink at their best between 8 – 10 years after vintage. Both the Rubicon and Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2009 vintage will be excellent candidates to put away and enjoy in 2020.
Waterford
Waterford is home to The Jem, a wine that is only made when a harvest is exceptional. Waterford’s ambition has always been to make the best possible red wine from their home grown vineyards, a wine that expresses Waterford’s ethos of uncompromising quality.
At R825 a bottle, this opulent and elegant red blend is certainly worth a pretty penny but undoubtedly you know you're getting the best of Waterford's terroir in a format that will keep for up to 15 years.
Ken Forrester
A white wine to add a little diversity to this list - The FMC 2010, 100% wooded Chenin Blanc, has always been a firm favourite amongst critics and wine lovers. Rich, layered with dried apricot, vanilla and honey - it won gold recently at the IWSC. It's a beautiful expression of South African Chenin and its flavours will certainly develop with cellaring.
Kanonkop
Kanonkop Estate has been described by some as being the South African equivalent of a Premier Cru or First Growth therefore the Paul Sauer 2011 has to make it to this list; Full-bodied, this is a big structured wine with a refined line of elegance. The blend itself is Cabernet Sauvignon 68%, Cabernet Franc 16%, Merlot 16% and can be enjoyed between 2020 – 2033.
Investing your money into any asset can come with risks and If you’re able to store your purchases at your home, protect them with Dialdirect Home Insurance and all you need worry about is when to open your wines and enjoy them.
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