Fine Wine Portfolio Advisory
Cellar Advisor partners with private investors around the world to build portfolios rooted in expertise, backed by data and designed for long term growth.
Trusted By
The Numbers
300+
Private Clients
£40m+
Inventory
30+
Countries
50+
Years Collective Expertise
THE ASSET CASE
Fine wine has long been recognised as a strong diversifier from mainstream asset classes, with a track record of attractive risk adjusted returns. Depending on where you are based, including in the UK, it also offers valuable tax efficiencies. At Cellar Advisor our single focus is maximising your chances of outperforming the fine wine market.
WHY OWN FINE WINE
Fine wine is not a replacement for equities. It is what equities cannot be: low-correlation, tangibly-owned, finite, and uniquely tax-efficient in the UK. The strongest portfolios contain both.
Twenty years of Liv-ex 1000 and Burgundy 150 against FTSE 100 and S&P 500. Rebased to 100 at January 2004. Price return only.
Rebased to 100 at 2014. Burgundy 150 from 2014. Sources: Liv-ex, FTSE Russell, S&P Dow Jones Indices. Index values anchored to published Liv-ex figures; intermediate points illustrative. Updated periodically.
CORRELATION TO FTSE 100
0.12
Correlation of fine wine to the FTSE 100 over 22 years. Near zero means fine wine moves largely independently of equities: exactly what a diversifier should do. Estimated from annual returns; monthly data would refine this marginally.
YEARS OF TRACK RECORD
22
Fine wine has navigated the 2008 financial crisis, COVID, inflation shocks, geopolitical crises, and a sustained market correction, with lower volatility than gold over the same period. Twenty-two years of real, benchmarked data.
CGT ON QUALIFYING WINES
0%
Most fine wine qualifies as a wasting asset under UK Capital Gains Tax rules, meaning gains are generally exempt from CGT. A unique advantage over equities, funds, and gold. Always confirm with a tax adviser.
Recognised by
Liv-Ex
Member
WSET
Level 3 Qualified
LCB Eton Park
Bonded Storage
The Guardian
As Featured In
WHAT SETS US APART
Most fine wine firms charge 1–2% of AUM annually, regardless of performance. Cellar Advisor charges 2% commission on sale for wines we source — nothing else. Wines transferred from elsewhere are subject to a separate fee structure.
Compare the fees →What sets Cellar Advisor apart is straightforward. We manage fine wine the way it has always deserved to be managed, with genuine personal attention.
How sourcing works →Your wine is held in a named, segregated account at LCB Eton Park. Not pooled, not co-mingled. You can inspect, withdraw, or sell individual cases at any time.
Storage & provenance →TRANSPARENT FEES
Drag the sliders to model your portfolio against a typical industry fee structure.
You retain more over 10 years
£29,530
vs typical industry fees · assumes 6% p.a. CAGR
Typical provider
£145,973
net after all fees
Cellar Advisor
£175,503
net after all fees
Illustrative only. Typical industry model: £750 setup, 2% AUM p.a., £600/yr storage, no exit commission. Cellar Advisor: 2% commission on sale only for wines we source, no other charges. Growth assumes 6% p.a. CAGR. Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns.
External wines transferred to Cellar Advisor for sale are subject to a different fee structure. See our fee structure.
Our Process
We begin by understanding your existing holdings, investment objectives, and risk profile. Every portfolio is different; every approach is bespoke.
We begin by understanding your existing holdings, investment objectives, and risk profile. Every portfolio is different; every approach is bespoke.
Your investment strategy is built around your goals: capital growth, drinking enjoyment, gifting, or inheritance planning. We write it down and revisit it with you annually.
We operate as part of the professional fine wine trade, receiving allocations from châteaux, domaines, and Champagne houses at prices established before wine becomes publicly available.
Every bottle we place is stored in your named account at LCB Eton Park, Nottingham — HMRC-approved bonded storage. Fully insured, climate-controlled, and visit-ready.
Monthly market reports, quarterly portfolio reviews, and real-time Liv-Ex pricing keep you informed without overwhelming you. We translate data into decisions.
Sample Portfolio
This is an anonymised, illustrative portfolio. All valuations use Liv-Ex mid-prices. Past performance is not a guarantee of future returns.
12-month avg change
+15.4%
Holdings shown
6
2014
Domaine Bonneau du Martray
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
2018
Pol Roger
Sir Winston Churchill
2017
E. Guigal
Côte Rôtie Château d'Ampuis
2018
Soldera (Case Basse)
100% Sangiovese Toscana
Fine wine investment is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The value of fine wine can go down as well as up and past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Excellent personal service from Daniel. Deep understanding and extensive knowledge of wine investment and portfolio management. Would happily recommend to anyone interested in building up a high quality investment cellar.
1 / 10
All testimonials are from verified Cellar Advisor clients and published with permission.
Held in Bond
Every bottle we place is held in a named account in your name at LCB Eton Park, Nottingham: HMRC-approved, climate-controlled bonded storage with named title. Not pooled. Not co-mingled. Yours.
Bonded storage keeps your wine outside UK duty and VAT until it is released for consumption. This preserves provenance, protects value, and significantly simplifies any future sale, a structural advantage every serious wine investor should understand.
LCB Eton Park
HMRC Approved Bonded Warehouse
Insights
FAQ
Wasting assets are defined by HMRC as assets with a predictable useful life not exceeding 50 years and are generally exempt from Capital Gains Tax in the UK. Most wines qualify as wasting assets given their tendency to deteriorate over time, which can make fine wine an attractive proposition from a tax efficiency perspective. That said, this is a complex area and individual circumstances will vary. Cellar Advisor strongly recommends seeking independent tax advice before making any investment decision
Cellar Advisor offers three core services. Our Portfolio Management service provides fully managed fine wine investment, tailored to each client's individual financial situation with no minimum investment requirement. Our Bespoke Sourcing service offers a personalised acquisition service for specific bottles, vintages and allocations, again with no minimum. Finally, our Selling and Liquidity service facilitates secondary market sales via Liv-ex, private placement or auction. All three services are available to private clients in the UK and internationally.
Clients transferring existing portfolios from external merchants or storage facilities benefit from our complete advisory and records service, with no portfolio management fees and selling fees of 2% for reinvestment and 7% for full liquidation, both inclusive of valuation, pricing strategy, buyer outreach, negotiation, settlement, and any LCB movements.
The first step is a free initial consultation with a named portfolio manager. We will discuss your goals, investment horizon, risk appetite, and whether fine wine is appropriate for your overall financial situation. There is no obligation and no commitment until you decide to proceed. Contact us via the website or call our London office.
Fine wine has delivered average annual returns of 10–15% over the past two decades according to the Liv-Ex Fine Wine 1000 index, outperforming many traditional asset classes over the same period. However, past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Fine wine is an illiquid, unregulated alternative asset class and is best viewed as part of a diversified portfolio with a minimum five-year time horizon.
There is no minimum investment requirement at Cellar Advisor. Our Portfolio Management service is built around each client's individual financial situation, allowing us to curate a portfolio that is right for you regardless of where you are starting from. Equally, our Bespoke Sourcing service carries no minimum, meaning we are able to conduct a search for anything from a single bottle upwards.
Private Client Advisory
A free consultation with a named Cellar Advisor portfolio manager. No obligation, no management fees. Simply a conversation about your goals.
