“When it comes to fine wine collection, trends can make a huge difference to the popularity of certain regions, and APW Asset Management look for ways to capitalise on these changes,“says Nicholas GibbsHead of Private Client Sales at one of the UK’s leading wine advisory consultancies, APW Asset Management.
Over the last few years more astute investors are turning to the Super Tuscans of Italy as a way of diversify their fine wine investment portfolios. Wines such asSassicaia,Masseto, Tignanello, Solaia and Ornellaia are top of the list and considered to be the first growths of Italian wine.

Due to the changing economic climate, more readily available market information andconsistent performance over the last few years, Super Tuscans are now considered to offer proven diversification benefits. Premium Italian wines are currently showing some strong returns for investor and have emerged as a strong alternative to Bordeaux and Burgundy for wine collecting in recent years.

The Super Tuscan 50 Index, which consists of the last ten vintages of Masseto, Sassicaia, Ornellaia, Solaia and Tignanello, has outperformed the Liv-ex 50 since June 2007, seeing a five-year return of 76%, up to June 2012.

A recent sale atSotheby's in New York sold a 15-litre format bottle also known as a Nebuchadnezzar, of Masseto for $49,000 (£30,800) after "fierce" bidding, APW Asset Managementrecently reported.According to Gibbs,“the performance of Masseto has steadily improved over the last decade along with the other Super Tuscans, but this sale could lead to a sudden surge in demand for this winery and other Tuscans of a similar quality.”

"Masseto confirmed its highly desirable status with bidders from Asia, Europe and the Americas fiercely competing to win this very rare Nebuchadnezzar of Masseto," Jamie Ritchie, chief executive and president of Sotheby's Wine in Americas and Asia, was quoted as saying.


Ritchie went on to explain that the lot was just one of only eight produced, five of which remain at the winery. The auction house also stated the value of Masseto has increased by 446 per cent since 1998.

Super Tuscans are enjoying a strong run of success, so much so, that Bordeaux Index, one of the largest wine brokerages in Europe, reported last month that it has seen a 63 per cent rise in demand for Italian wine from investors this year.