Fine Wine Collecting: A History of Changing Tastes & Fortunes
Written by - Cult Wines Team
In 1824, Madeira was sitting on an estimated 40,000 pipes of wine with too few buyers, just decades after it had been one of the most desirable wines in the Atlantic world. Its story is far from unique. German Riesling once rivalled and sometimes outpriced celebrated French wines, a bottle of Beaujolais once cost almost the same as one from Beaune, and the Champagne poured in nineteenth-century high society was far sweeter than today’s dry styles.
In our latest feature, we look at how war, trade, fashion and the market have repeatedly rewritten what belongs in a great cellar, from Bordeaux’s long dominance to the rise of white Burgundy and Champagne. It is a reminder that scarcity alone has never guaranteed value: the market must continue to want what is becoming scarce.
Read Full Article
News in brief
Henry Tang’s Wine Collection Exceeds Expectations at Christie’s Auction
A landmark sale of Hong Kong collector Henry Tang’s wine collection on 10 October 2026 achieved HK$50.2 million (£4.8 million) at Christie’s, exceeding its HK$30 million pre-sale estimate by 67%. All 860 lots sold, with a magnum of 1971 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti fetching HK$875,000. Nearly half of buyers were millennials or Generation Z, highlighting growing interest among younger collectors. The 13-hour auction attracted international bidding and demonstrated continued demand for rare wines with exceptional provenance.
90,000 Bottles of Fake Châteauneuf-du-Pape Uncovered in €1.8m Fraud
French authorities have uncovered an alleged wine fraud involving more than 90,000 bottles falsely marketed as Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A producer in Occitanie reportedly sold wines from the 2020–2022 vintages under the prestigious appellation, generating revenue up to 14 times their actual value. Investigators seized over €1.8 million in assets, including a luxury Alpine chalet, while proceeds allegedly funded expensive cars and a competition horse. The case is expected to reach court in Béziers.
United Airlines Creates Wine Blended at 35,000 Feet
United Airlines has partnered with Sonoma winemaker Jesse Katz of Aperture Cellars to create a wine specifically designed for drinking at cruising altitude. Blended during a flight from New York to San Francisco, the Cabernet Sauvignon-led wine was developed to counteract how dry cabin air affects aromas, fruit and tannins. Named Air and Vine, the 2024 vintage will be served in United’s Polaris business class from 2028, reflecting growing competition among airlines to improve their premium wine offerings.
What we’re drinking
Vincent Dancer Bourgogne Blanc 2018
Tom Gearing, CEO & Co-Founder - Cult Wines
You don't need to spend a fortune in Burgundy to drink exceptional Chardonnay. Vincent Dancer's Bourgogne Blanc is proof.
Dancer is a domaine with an unusual story. Vincent, an engineer from Alsace, arrived in Chassagne-Montrachet in 1996 to farm family vines that had been rented out for years. He adopted organic practices long before most of his neighbours and built a devoted following for his taut, mineral-driven whites, with holdings extending all the way to Chevalier-Montrachet. His son Théo joined him in 2016, took the reins in 2021, and is doing an absolutely incredible job.
The secret here is the fruit. This is no anonymous regional blend. The wine comes from two vineyards just outside the village boundaries: Les Magny in Meursault and Les Femelottes in Puligny-Montrachet. In other words, Meursault and Puligny soils at Bourgogne prices.
Théo ferments with native yeasts in tank and old oak, skips lees stirring, and bottles without fining or filtration. Everything points towards purity rather than weight, delivering the precision and character you'd expect from a far more expensive white Burgundy.
Our fine wine feature
Etna Nears DOCG: What Changes for Collectors
Written by - Jonathan Stevenson, EVP North America - Cult Wines
Mount Etna is nearing DOCG status, and the changes go well beyond a new label. Lower yields, minimum vine ages, two years of mandatory ageing and no fallback to DOC for wines that miss the standard should raise quality across the region. From the 2026 vintage, commune names such as Castiglione di Sicilia, Randazzo and Milo can also appear on the label, giving collectors a clearer way to compare sites.
Supply is tightening at the same time. New planting is capped at 50 hectares a year, and 2023’s mildew outbreak cut red wine production on the north slope by an average of 70%. Jonathan Stevenson looks at where prices stand, why some of Etna’s finest wines will stay outside the DOCG as IGT, and three producers to watch.
Read Full Article
Explore & travel
Burgundy for People Who Plan to Eat, Drink & Never Leave
Written by - Mengyan Zhu, Fine Wine Advisor - Cult Wines
Burgundy is not a place for a quick bite. Even a casual lunch can turn into three courses, two bottles and a passionate debate about soil. In our latest Explore & Travel guide, we share the tables worth planning a trip around, from three-star Maison Lameloise to the candlelit, winemaker-approved Caves Madeleine in Beaune. We also cover the regional classics you should not leave without trying.
We round up the best places to stay too, including the newly restored Château la Commaraine and COMO Le Montrachet, with practical tips on getting there, when to go and what to book ahead. For collectors, we explain why a walk along the Route des Grands Crus is the best way to understand Burgundy’s scarcity and buy well.
Read Full Article
