My grandfather always used to say that the only constant is change. Since returning to Chiswick Auctions, I’ve seen just how true that is. Our wine sales are evolving in new ways, shaped by shifting buyer habits, market dynamics and the remarkable collections coming through our doors.
Only three years ago, buyers were primarily focused on investment. Cases of Burgundy, high-value whisky and vintage Ports were the order of the day. Now the focus has shifted. Collectors are increasingly buying to drink rather than to store away. Prices for investment-grade bottles had risen steeply, tariffs have created uncertainty for certain whisky markets, and collectors have built up backlogs.
Bottles intended for special occasions never find an occasion special enough, and as so many wines have become so much better over the years a good Cabernet is often celebratory enough, while the finest wine seems too special for any occasion. So they eventually come to us.
Our September 11th sale has been driven by those very changes: changes in what people are buying, changes in who is uncovering cellars, and changes in what is coming to market and why. A fortunate combination of circumstances has brought together two extraordinary Champagne collections for this sale, one from the Cotswolds and another from a former members’ club in London. Together, they span an impressive eight decades of vintages.
We are also seeing collectors divest themselves of earlier en-primeur purchases. With the Bordelais pushing pricing as far as it can reasonably go, buyers are anticipating more favourably priced vintages ahead and making space by selling off wines acquired over the last twenty years. This has led to an influx of aged Bordeaux at auction, with younger buyers recognising both the quality and the value. This is why this sale features Château Margaux spanning three centuries.
The whisky market, meanwhile, is in a state of flux. While it has been turbulent, exceptional whiskies continue to emerge at auction number of consignments has led me to separate the majority of whisky into its own dedicated sale in October. The September sale will feature a handful of fine single malts, but the real depth will follow the next month.
And the changes do not stop there. More collections are coming to market as owners downsize or shift direction in life.
I know that “the only constant is change” can sound like a truism, but it is one with merit. My grandfather instilled in me the sense that change should not be resisted or feared, but welcomed. This upcoming sale is the first I have overseen in its entirety since my return to Chiswick Auctions. It is a departure from the March sale, and far removed from the sales of three years ago. The structure is different, the range is wider, and the atmosphere feels refreshed. For me, it is hugely exciting.
The wines are exceptional, the consignors have been wonderful to work with, and the bidding has already begun to gather pace. The market is evolving, and this auction represents a glimpse of what is to come.
We look forward to welcoming you as part of this journey.
For a complimentary valuation of your wines or spirits, please contact our specialist team at sam.hellyer@chiswickauctions.co.uk or submit an online valuation.