Wine & Whiskey

Actually, Wine Labels Do Affect a Wine’s Value

One of the key issues used to evaluate the value of most collectibles usually includes its eye appeal. This should be obvious when it comes to sports collectibles, fine art and jewelry. But what about other collectibles, like wine?

Most oenophiles and wine connoisseurs will say that the most important aspect of any wine is how it actually tastes. What has to be included is that eye appeal is still relevant in collecting wine. That can impact its price at the time of purchase and it can impact its ability to be resold down the road.

Collectors Dashboard evaluates many aspects of collectibles equally. The collectibles sector has garnered individual sales in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and millions of dollars. It is now undeniably an alternative asset class, and that includes fine wine that is sought out by collectors and investors alike.

To some people who keep journals and souvenirs of trips, or special dinners, or special bottles, a Label removed from a bottle is collectible or a keepsake on its own. A bottle without its original label is missing much of its potential. In fact, and with so many scams that have been reported over the years, many wine buyers would not dare trust what they are buying if there is no proof in the label.

The website Vinepair.com expresses that only the wine enthusiast can be excited by what’s in the bottle, not an asset collector (investor). That said, wine as an asset still needs something to display and show what it is.

An aged label can set the mood while being poured from. Picture low lighting and paper tastefully yellowed by proper care of an investment.

Wine collecting as an asset is costly. Each bottle reflects what each wine has been exposed to. The website VinFolio.com also cautions that any damaging to a wine label can reduce its value by as much as 40%. In some ways, that sure sounds to be similar to sports cards or comic books in poor condition rather than in mint condition.

Collectors are trained to notice damage as a red flag. Collectors are also cautioned how hard selling wine can be. Every label is inspected in Vinfolio’s warehouse before going to sale. That said, some wine buyers do look for a deal. Other collectors see broken wine seals as a sign of an asset that will be hard to resell if they purchase it.

A wine expert is recommended to verify any collection from emerging examples of fraud. According to Forbes, wine fraud is a multi-billion dollar business. Jeannie Cho Lee spent two full days in 2017 in training to spot fraudulent wines and to better understand its role in collecting today.

Additional “lookout” items in wine buying would include misspelled names and inconsistencies in packaging. It is also important to look out for empty expensive bottles being filled to resell filled with something that is not advertised.

A wine that is “corked” is a flaw that generally comes from chemicals in the cork itself. Natural corks on high-end wine are subject to mold if not stored properly. This can wreck a wine’s taste, and what would have been a theoretical $1,200 bottle of wine might be considered less than expensive vinegar.

Trichloroanisole (TCA) is a compound that forms from interactions with chlorine-based cleaning products. Any wood product down to tree bark can absorb the flavor best described as wet dog while in the production of barrel storing and bottling. Cork Taint and TCA could have been caused by wine producers themselves. Wine Spectator demonstrates plenty on this topic.

The consumer in the life of a high-end wine can be equally responsible in creating flaws in flavor. What is strongly recommended: know the taste in order to avoid it. Knowing details about wine labels is just a starting point in identifying the authenticity and quality of what a great wine should be. That said, it’s a starting point that cannot be skipped.

 

Categories: Wine & Whiskey

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