US Fine Wine Prices to Rise in 2015

New figures have shown the Ideal Wine Company that fine wine prices in the US, known for the quality of its California vintages, are set to rise in 2015.

From Bit Player to Up and Coming Behemoth

As a provider of first-rate luxury vintages for a price that won’t break your bank balance, the Ideal Wine Company strives to bring you fine wines from around the world. We have several vintages from the US’s most famous wine-making region, California.

Once a bit player on the global wine stage, the US is becoming known as an up and coming behemoth in the world of wine making. As such it proved no surprise to the Ideal Wine Company when we heard that US fine wine prices are set to rise in 2015.

US Fine Wine to Rise 14% - 18%

According to Wine Searcher, the Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) annual State of the Industry report revealed that US fine wine prices are set to rise 14% - 18% throughout 2015.

Defining fine wine as vintages costing $20 or more, SVB went on to reveal that this comes despite three successive large domestic harvests that have provided the industry with an abundant supply of wine. They also argued that prices will increase despite wine makers’ previous reluctance to charge more for their wares due to the state of the economy.

“It’s the Economy Stupid!”

SVB executive vice president Rob McMillan took the time to speak out on the revelation to Wine Searcher. McMillan was quick to argue that "I really think it's going to be a breakout year" for luxury wine in the US.

When asked what the biggest indicator that the SVB’s prediction would bear fruit was, McMillan proceeded to quote Bill Clinton; "it's the economy, stupid." The vice president elaborated by suggesting that "restaurants are starting to be a little bit more optimistic now," and "that's a big change. 35% of fine wines are sold in restaurants."

Check out the Ideal Wine Company Product List

That could push the prices of US fine wine up around the rest of the world. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced US luxury vintage in 2015, make sure you take the time to check out the Ideal Wine Company product list. 

What Do You Get When You Mix Wine with a Black Light?

Have you ever found yourself wondering, ‘what do you get when you mix wine with a black light?’ Is so read on, because you might just have your answer. This week the Ideal Wine Company explores a new trend that’s taking over the basements and clubs of LA. The wine rave.

Ideal Wine Company Never Thought We’d Be Breaking out the Glow Sticks!

Who doesn’t remember the 90’s; the decade that bore witness to the rise of the rave? For any of you who blacked out memories of this particular time in party history, a rave was an underground shindig where people bopped along to outlandish trance tunes whilst necking cans of bargain basement booze.

We never really believed that as a provider of outstanding fine wines from around the world at reasonable prices, the Ideal Wine Company would ever have any reason to go to a rave. Yet a new trend that’s taking over LA may just have us breaking out our glow sticks.

A Rave with Better Alcohol

This week saw LA Eater feature an editorial called 6 Things to Know About Wine Raves in LA. The article told us everything we need to know about the party trend that’s sweeping one of the world’s biggest cities; the wine rave.

It’s exactly what you think it is. A wine rave is an underground rave-style party complete with black lights, glow sticks and heady trance tunes… with one small exception. The alcohol that’s used to lubricate its participants is of a much higher standard. Wine raves differentiate themselves from their 90’s forebears by serving wine shots and glowing wine cocktails!

Why Do People Go to Wine Raves?

Wine raves have actually been around for a while. However they started gaining prominence around 2011, when they hit the basements, warehouses and clubs of nearby San Diego. 

So why are they so popular?

We might find our answer from Wineravela.com’s explanation of what you can expect to find when you hit your nearest wine rave. "Wine rave is a state of mind. Can you free yourself from colour; its sensation as pleasure; as life. Stop swirling. Derobe. Become bioluminescent. Feel a stranger. Listen. Laugh and have fun. Wine rave."

Taking Your Love of Wine to a Whole New Level

So what do you get when you mix wine with a black light? As it turns out, a mind blowing experience which allows you to take your love of wine to a whole new level. A bioluminescent level. No wonder wine raves are sweeping LA!

What does ‘Smoke Taint’ do to a Luxury Vintage?

Fears expressed recently by wine specialists in Australia have prompted us to ask here on the Ideal Wine Company Blog this week; what does ‘smoke taint’ do to a luxury vintage?

How easy is it to ruin the Quality of Wine?

You don’t build a reputation as a supplier of premium wines for prices consumers can actually afford, like the Ideal Wine Company, without coming to one realisation. Wine is a complex tipple.

You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to ruin the quality of a fine wine whilst you’re making it. If you make one mistake, you can render it practically undrinkable. Yet this isn’t a problem for the wine maker with experience. Their real problem with the viticulture process is that it’s too subject to a number of factors that they simply can’t control.

Wine That Tastes Like an Ashtray

Just ask wine growers in Australia. At the moment they’re finding that their reputation as an up-and-coming player on the global wine stage is coming under threat due to the recent forest fires that have raged recently through South-Eastern Australia.

The fires haven’t touched a single lucrative vine. According to Reuters wine growers in the region have fear that the grapes near the fires could fall victim to ‘smoke taint.’ When smoke infects the grape on the vine, said grape produces wine that tastes like an ashtray.

A Symptom of Climate Change

Smoke taint has the ability to ruin an entire vintage. Therefore, the forest fires that have swallowed up swathes of Australia’s landscape over the past decade have made the issue of smoke taint one that has gripped the imagination of wine growers all over the country in recent years. 

The Australian wine industry first noticed the problem when the severe forest fires that raged through the state of Victoria in 2003, irreparably damaging $6.05 million worth of wine in the process.

Australian Wine Research Institute smoke taint specialist Mark Krstic explained the issue in more depth to the online publication. Krstic argued that "it's a nightmare of a problem," before suggesting that "smoke taint is one of the symptoms of climate change for the wine industry and it's only getting worse."

Smoke Taint Can Ruin a Luxury Vintage

He’s suggesting that climate change is sparking these forest fires. As climate change gets worse, smoke taint will become more of an issue for the wine growers of Australia.

As we’ve seen, smoke taint can ruin a luxury bottle of wine. The expert’s comments suggest that the Australian wine industry has some tough challenges to face on the road ahead, as smoke taint becomes more of a threat to vines throughout every wine growing region in the land down under. 

The Christmas Day Fine Wine Heist

Whilst you were cracking open your bottle of Dom Perignon Brut whilst opening your presents this December 25^th, Ideal Wine Company discovered that one restaurant in the US had stores of its finest vintages stolen. Thieves decided to target the establishment on Christmas day.

The Investment Value of Wine

As a provider of first class vintages at reasonable prices, the Ideal Wine Company understands the value of fine wine. Buy the right bottle and it can provide you with an effective investment, sure to line your pockets when you finally decide to sell it off for a handsome profit.

That must have been the thought running through the minds of a group of thieves in the wine-making region of Napa this December 25^th. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, they decided to reap the investment value of fine wine by targeting an upscale Yountville Restaurant on Christmas Day.

Say Goodbye to 76 of Your Most Luxurious Bottles

The restaurant in question? The French Laundry. This is a well-known Michelin three-starred restaurant. The Chronicle suggests that it’s often called the best in the US or even the best in the world. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that they have a healthy store of fine vintages.

Which is why it must have seemed an obvious target when a group of thieves started planning what we’ve decided to call the Christmas Day wine heist. Targeting the French Laundry, burglars took off with a mind-shattering 76 of it’s most luxurious bottles. Most of these bottles just happened to be Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC), one of the highest value French Burgundies in the world.

Popular With the Criminal Set

Apparently DRC is actually a rather popular vintage with the criminal set. Justin Grover of Fine Wines International – a rare-wine store in the US’ most liberal city, talked about the issue with the Chronicle. His shop was targeted in 2013.

Grover explained that “thieves have been stealing this wine because it is so rare and expensive.” Comparing his situation to that of French Laundry’s, Grover went on to suggest that at his shop “they left other wines of value and only took the DRC wines,” adding “that’s what they did at the French Laundry.”

The True Value of a Fantastically Crafted Luxury Vintage

If anything, the tale of the Christmas Day wine heist has reminded us of the true value of a fantastically crafted luxury vintage. Find that rare bottle with the Ideal Wine Company, and you’ll have an investment that as time wears on, is sure to bring high dividends to your bank account!