Fine wine merchant Robert Rolls has entered into the spirit of Wine Relief in a particularly clever and intriguing way, by instituting the Wine Investment Challenge. He presents a list of fine wines from which a notional £5000 portfolio can be assembled in the Financial Times (and presumably to anyone who emails him). Those who want to take part send him their list of wines they think will appreciate the most over the next two years, together with a cheque to £15 made out to 'Comic Relief (Wine Relief)'.
His first Investment Challenge was instituted for Comic Relief 2001 so he is now able to announce the results of the Wine Investment Challenge 2001. A total of 80 people tried their hand (raising £1200 for Wine Relief – good but I'm sure we can do better this year). The average gain of those 80 wine portfolios was 6.25 per cent of which
- 20 per cent averaged +14 per cent
- 70 per cent averaged + 5.5 per cent
- 10 per cent averaged – 2 per cent
The FTSE 100 over the same period (January 2001 to January 2003) lost 35.5 per cent so wine looks a pretty good investment – though I wonder whether it will prove to be such a good one over the next two years.
The winner of the 2001 Challenge is Antony Hichens from Dorset (whose portfolio rose by 23 per cent) who wins £1000 worth of wine from Robert Rolls.
In second place is Michael Rapp of London (21 per cent) who wins £500 worth of wine and in third place Bruce Ingraham of Middlesbrough (18 per cent) wins £250 worth of wine.
Here are the fascinating results of the 2001 Challenge – Italy, Burgundy, and less expensive Bordeaux fared best.
| | | | | |
| Results of the FT Wine Investment Challenge 2001 | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Cost per case in £ | 2001 | 2003 | | % Increase |
| | | | | |
| 1999 Calon Ségur | 160 | 210 | | 24 |
| 1999 Lynch Bages | 245 | 275 | | 11 |
| 1998 Haut Brion | 1300 | 1350 | | 4 |
| 1998 Quinault L'Enclos | 440 | 410 | | -7 |
| 1998 Talbot | 165 | 205 | | 20 |
| 1996 Cantemerle | 160 | 174 | | 8 |
| 1995 Montrose | 360 | 380 | | 5 |
| 1990 Gruaud Larose | 560 | 600 | | 7 |
| 1990 Pape Clement | 600 | 650 | | 8 |
| 1989 Palmer | 1080 | 995 | | -8 |
| 1989 Léoville Barton | 540 | 555 | | 3 |
| 1986 Pichon Lalande | 960 | 840 | | -12 |
| 1982 Beychevelle | 740 | 695 | | -6 |
| 1983 D'Yquem | 1960 | 2125 | | 8 |
| 1999 Chassagne Montrachet, Niellon | 190 | 225 | | 16 |
| 1999 Bâtard Montrachet, Paul Pernot | 600 | 720 | | 17 |
| 1998 Chambolle Musigny, Hubert Lignier | 185 | 185 | | 0 |
| 1999 Clos Vougeot, Robert Arnoux | 440 | 560 | | 21 |
| 1995 Côte Rôtie Brune et Blonde, Guigal | 220 | 240 | | 8 |
| 1998 Hermitage La Sizeranne | 360 | 325 | | -9 |
| 1998 Hermitage La Chapelle | 480 | 434 | | -9 |
| 1990 Beaucastel | 720 | 765 | | 6 |
| 1990 Dom Perignon | 640 | 682 | | 6 |
| 1997 Barbaresco Gaja | 660 | 828 | | 20 |
| 1997 Sassicaia | 1050 | 1130 | | 7 |
| 1995 Amarone Classico Allegrini | 240 | 370 | | 35 |
| 1994 Dominus | 1160 | 1275 | | 9 |
| 1985 Graham | 395 | 395 | | 0 |
| | | | | |
| Overall % increase: | | | | 7 |
| | | | | |
So now's the time to enter the 2003 Challenge (which this time includes some Australian wine). Just contact Robert Rolls (tel 020 7606 1166, mail@rollswine.com) and ask for an application form, or cut it out of the FT on 22 March. Surely this year we can manage to raise more for Comic Relief than it's costing Rolls to run this intriguing competition.