Kevin Shaun Jirasinghe
08/09/2026
Why the Market Still Leads
Burgundy dominates the top of the fine wine market because its greatest wines combine exceptional quality, globally recognised producers and supply that cannot meaningfully increase. Recent analysis reported by The Drinks Business found that 24 of the world’s 25 most expensive actively traded wines come from Burgundy.
Yet the investment lesson is not simply to buy the most expensive bottle. Burgundy has experienced a major market correction, and extreme rarity can reduce liquidity. Producer, vineyard, vintage and entry price all matter.
| Indicator | Latest position | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Wines from Burgundy in a recent global top 25 | 24 | The highest-priced end of the market is heavily concentrated in Burgundy |
| Domaine Leroy and Domaine d’Auvenay wines in that ranking | 17 | A small number of producers command a disproportionate premium |
| Liv-ex Burgundy 150 | 615.6 | The regional index has returned to short-term growth |
Burgundy’s most valuable wines come from legally defined vineyards that cannot be expanded. A producer cannot create more Romanée-Conti, Musigny or Montrachet simply because global demand increases.
Several forces restrict supply:
This creates a supply structure unlike most luxury products. Manufacturers can make more watches or cars. Burgundy cannot manufacture another historic Grand Cru vineyard.
Quality and reputation remain essential, but scarcity is what allows demand to translate into extraordinary prices.
White Burgundy occupies three of the four highest positions in the reported top 25. The finest Chardonnay vineyards in the Côte de Beaune are tiny and divided among multiple owners, leaving some domaines with only a few hundred bottles from a sought-after parcel.
Lalou Bize-Leroy has an exceptional influence. Domaine Leroy and Domaine d’Auvenay contributed 17 wines to the ranking. D’Auvenay farms just 3.87 hectares across 16 appellations, while Leroy also combines small holdings with extremely low yields.
These wines unite celebrated producers, prestigious vineyards and exceptionally limited supply. That supports their value, but does not guarantee easy valuation or resale.
Burgundy’s secondary-market position is strengthening. In July 2026, it overtook Bordeaux as Liv-ex’s most-traded region by value for the first time since 2022, led by names including Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Ramonet, Leflaive and d’Auvenay.
The Liv-ex Burgundy 150 currently stands at 615.6. It tracks the ten most recent physical vintages of 15 highly traded red and white Burgundies.
| Period | Performance |
|---|---|
| One month | +0.7% |
| Year to date | +1.4% |
| One year | +3.2% |
| Two years | -8.7% |
| Five years | +3.1% |
Positive monthly and one-year results suggest stabilisation, while the two-year decline shows the recovery remains incomplete. Prices are below the peak, but the scarcity of the leading wines is unchanged.
Not necessarily.
A prestigious wine may already carry much of its reputation in its price. A less expensive domaine may have greater room to appreciate if its quality and collector demand are still gaining recognition.
Investors should consider:
Entry price is crucial. An exceptional wine bought at an inflated valuation can underperform a less famous bottle acquired sensibly.
As Moncharm’s H1 2026 fine-wine analysis showed, recent performance has been concentrated among specific wines and vintages. Burgundy’s reputation does not make every bottle equally investable.
Burgundy’s position at the top of the fine wine market rests on something that cannot easily change: finite vineyards and exceptionally limited production.
Recent Liv-ex figures suggest the region is stabilising after its correction, but price alone is not evidence of investment potential. The strongest opportunities are more likely to come from wines that combine quality, scarcity, sensible valuation and sufficient liquidity.
Investors should not chase Burgundy simply because it is expensive. They should identify the producers and vintages where global demand still has room to grow.
To explore Burgundy and other opportunities in the fine wine market, download Moncharm’s free wine investment guide or speak to our team.
Burgundy combines world-renowned vineyards and producers with extremely limited production. Because vineyard boundaries are fixed, supply cannot expand when collector demand rises.
Selected wines may offer potential following the market correction, but returns are not guaranteed. The Burgundy 150 is positive over one year yet remains down over two years, making careful selection essential.
It is an index tracking the price performance of the ten most recent physical vintages from 15 leading red and white Burgundy labels, including six Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines.
No. Very rare wines can be difficult to value and sell. Investors need a balance between scarcity, demand, transparent pricing and market liquidity.
The finest white Burgundy comes from tiny Grand Cru vineyards divided among multiple owners. Production can be only a few hundred bottles, while international collector demand remains strong.
20 Oct 2026
