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One of the most famous Sonoma wine appellations is Los Carneros

Your Guide to Sonoma Wine Appellations

California, Sonoma, Wine RegionsBy Vinfolio Staff December 6, 2019

Sonoma Valley in California has earned a stellar reputation for producing some of the most fascinating wines in the New World. An incredible array of wines is made here, from refined and elegant Pinot Noir that dances delicately on the palate to robust and hedonistic Zinfandel that’s full of unctuous fruit flavors. What makes this region so diverse? More than a dozen microclimates and terroirs are packed into this small county. There are 18 Sonoma wine appellations (called American Viticultural Areas, or AVAs for short), each producing different styles of wine. No two appellations are exactly alike.

The Top Five Wines from Spain

Buying Wine, Collecting, Investing, Spain, Wine RegionsBy Vinfolio Staff December 5, 2019

Spain is home to many passionate producers that pride themselves on crafting opulent styles of wine with impressive aging potential. From the concentrated and oaked wines of Rioja to the aromatic and polished wines of Ribera del Duero, Spain has so much to offer. Vinfolio’s resident Master of Wine Adam Lapierre says that more collectors should get excited about Spanish wines, as many wines from this country are growing more valuable and delicious every year.

The 2019 Burgundy vintage is ripe and concentrated

Your 2019 Burgundy Vintage Report: A Year of Concentrated Yet Balanced Wines

Burgundy, France, Investing, Wine Regions, WinemakingBy Vinfolio Staff November 21, 2019

Now that producers in Burgundy have brought in the last of their 2019 crop, spirits are high across the region. Extremely warm weather and uneven flowering early in the season reduced yields, but the quality of the surviving fruit is exceptional. Early reports show that the grapes are deeply concentrated and intense this year—a quality that could signify great aging potential and value in the future. In this 2019 Burgundy vintage report, we highlight the wines we believe will have the greatest complexity and value this year so that you can make the most informed decisions about how to invest when the vintage is released.

Chateau Margaux and Chateau Latour are two of the first-growth Bordeaux wine producers.

First-Growth Bordeaux Wine: A Guide to the Best Labels

Bordeaux, Collecting, France, Producers, Producers and WineriesBy Vinfolio Staff November 15, 2019

To say first-growth Bordeaux wine is high in quality is an understatement. There are only five first-growth estates in Bordeaux, and each of them crafts some of the most elegant, prestigious, and valuable wines in the world. Wines with official first-growth classifications are often worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars more than their lesser-ranked peers and are considered by many to be the cornerstone of any serious French wine collection.

The 2019 Bordeaux harvest was very successful

The 2019 Bordeaux Harvest: A Deeply Concentrated, Promising Vintage

Bordeaux, Vintage, WinemakingBy Vinfolio Staff November 14, 2019

The 2019 Bordeaux harvest is complete, the last of the grapes have been plucked from the vine, and winemakers and professional critics are very optimistic about the quality of 2019 Bordeaux. Although it’s still very early, they’re seeing firm tannins, rich coloration, and high sugar content balanced by high acidity. The fruit is also strongly aromatic (much like it was during the successful 2018 Bordeaux harvest). In other words, this vintage will be powerful and concentrated—a vintage worth laying down. In this guide to the 2019 Bordeaux harvest, we’ll discuss which grape varieties and areas of Bordeaux had the most success this year so that you can prepare your investments when en primeur season rolls around.

Light red wines for fall are the perfect choice.

Light Red Wines for Fall: The Best Autumn Wines to Drink

Buying Wine, Enjoying Wine, Pinot Noir, SangioveseBy Vinfolio Staff November 7, 2019

Fall is the season of change—as the trees shed their leaves and temperatures drop, both people and animals begin hunkering down for the cold, dark winter months ahead. The wine industry also changes this time of the year as wine enthusiasts stow their crisp white and rosé wines and replace them with bolder, richer reds that pair well with hearty fall dishes.

Our guide to Rioja wine discusses the role of cask aging.

A Detailed Guide to Rioja Wine

Investing, Rioja, SpainBy Vinfolio Staff November 1, 2019

Rioja wine is changing rapidly. Just a few years ago, the Spanish winegrowing region was known for producing easy-drinking Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache) blends. While these wines were pleasant—filled with sweet strawberry flavors and the scent of baking spices—most weren’t particularly complex or valuable. However, in 2017 the region’s governing body introduced a new classification system that sets Rioja’s finest wines apart from its table wines. The wines in the highest classifications are intense, tannic, and multidimensional, a far cry from the region’s softer, more simplistic offerings.

2001 Masseto is one of the top ten wines in Tuscany

The Top Ten Wines from Tuscany for Collectors

Collecting, Investing, Italy, TuscanyBy Vinfolio Staff October 31, 2019

To help you explore the region’s most complex and age-worthy wines, we’ve created a list of the top ten wines from Tuscany that are perfect for serious wine enthusiasts and collectors. While Tuscany has many other top-quality wines to offer, these ten are among the best on the market today. They are enthralling, complex, valuable, and have great aging potential, making them a wise choice for almost any collection.

2012 Colgin Tychson Hill Vineyard one of Colgin's 100-point wines.

Colgin’s 100-Point Wines Are Great Investments for Collectors

California, Collecting, Napa, Producers, Producers and WineriesBy Vinfolio Staff October 24, 2019

Colgin Cellars’ wines are supremely rare and exclusive. The Napa Valley winery sells fewer than 2,800 cases of wine per year to a handful of upscale restaurants and 8,000 members on its selective mailing list. Getting your hands on these complex and delectable red wines isn’t easy, particularly if you’re on the hunt for one of Colgin’s many 100-point vintages. These top-rated wines are highly sought-after among serious wine enthusiasts and tend to sell out very quickly on the secondary market.

The Russian River Valley wine region has an unusual climate.

Your Guide to the Russian River Valley Wine Region

California, Sonoma, Wine RegionsBy Vinfolio Staff October 18, 2019

If you were to rank the best American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in the United States, the Russian River Valley wine region would be near the top of the list. This California AVA located in Sonoma is tremendously well-respected among wine experts, who consider it one of the greatest regions in the world for growing complex Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Many of the wines made here are acidic, elegant, and multilayered. These are luscious wines that every collector should experience at least once in a lifetime.

2016 Pichon Baron is one of the best Bordeaux under $200.

The Best Bordeaux Under $200 for Serious Collectors

Bordeaux, Buying Wine, Collecting, FranceBy Vinfolio Staff October 17, 2019

Master of Wine Jancis Robinson says, “I am always banging on about how price is no absolute guide to quality and I believe this is particularly true of Bordeaux.” She goes on to say that although most first growths sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars per bottle, there are plenty of high-quality petits châteaux wines available for a fraction of that price. In fact, it’s possible to find many top-quality and age-worthy wines for less than $200 per bottle. This guide to the best Bordeaux under $200 will help you discover fine red and white wines that have some of the highest quality-to-price ratios on the market.

One of the best vintages of Château Latour is the 1982

The Best Vintages of Château Latour for Collectors

Bordeaux, Collecting, Producers, Producers and Wineries, VintageBy Vinfolio Staff October 10, 2019

The best vintages of Château Latour are among the longest-lived wines in the world. While certain wines like fine port and Tokaji are known to age for 100 years or more, it’s rare to find a red Bordeaux blend with the same aging potential. Château Latour is one of these extraordinary wines. For instance, the 1961 vintage—considered one of the greatest in the estate’s history—continues to develop in complexity even to this day. When Master of Wine Jancis Robinson tried the 1961 vintage a few years ago, she said, “I can hardly believe the drinking dates I am suggesting for this wine! Drink through 2040.”