Prophet investor Michael Burry endorses wine investment in 2026
‘First Growth Bordeaux could be deployed to short the US dollar’. Micheal Burry, 11th September 2026
Michael Burry famously profited from the 2008 sub-prime crash - now fine wine as an investable asset is grabbing his attention.
Burry is a former hedge fund manager with a reputation that has investors around the world following him for pointers to the next big opportunity. He was flagged by Warren Buffet, who dubbed Burry a ‘Cassandra’ (a prophetic financial warning figure), as issuing correct warnings about the sub-prime market as early as 2004 that ultimately contributed to the 2008 financial market crash.
Burry’s analysis famously made his clients over US$700million, foresight made legendary in the film ‘The Big Short’ with Christian Bale cast as Burry. He is viewed as an opinion that counts. So, Burry’s recent post on his Substack Cassandra, which suggests that First Growth Bordeaux could be deployed to short the US dollar, has investors’ heads turning!
Burry and alternative investments
The role of alternative investments in a portfolio, where they are essentially non-correlated with stocks and bonds and would sit alongside, not replace, traditional assets quoted on securities markets is important to understand.
Burry stresses these investments must be thoroughly researched and sufficiently non-correlated to financial markets to make ‘the inevitable friction of moving away from publicly traded securities market a worthwhile endeavour and a sound investment decision.’ Notably, Burry asserts that fine wines are a ‘near-perfect diversifier’ to the S&P500, to which there has been virtually no correlation over the last 25 years.
It is significant that he also reports that alternative investments do not warrant his attention often – so when they do – we should pay attention!
Burry points to a potential ‘perfect storm’ where there will be point at which transaction speed super boosted by AI and Quantum Computing will carry much greater risk. The US dollar will become progressively more vulnerable and real assets increasingly attractive in such circumstances.
We have already witnessed the resurgence of gold in terms of value and as a safe haven over the turbulent period since Russia invaded Ukraine and exercised further with Trump’s Iran War. Burry points to gold as a ‘marker of too much debt, too little monetary restraint, and too much AI and quantum computing risk piled on top.’
In his view it ‘makes sense to hedge with uncorrelated, physical / real hard assets. Those who can provide or address tangible real-world needs will possess a valuable position. … Cater to the hard asset needs of the top 1%... well, such would be invaluable.’
Burry on fine wine investment
The founder of Scion Asset Management is tightening his focus on the European bonded fine wine market. He frames the key characteristics of investment wine being diverse, liquid, analysable and investable and notably recognises that many investors are largely unaware of the opportunities bonded fine wine offers. He is now providing a lens.
Burry grabs attention with the statement that ‘every single case of fine wine sitting in a London bonded warehouse can be a short position on the US dollar, a global hedge against fiat currency and a ward against global financial systems’ vulnerability to the various hellscapes possibly wrought by future iterations of AI and quantum computing’.
He states that the finest wine in the world hits the mark in terms of resilient demand in good and bad times for the top one percent wealthiest of the global population. The top wines will always be collected and consumed by them and Burry points to example such as Petrus, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Mouton Rothschild and Margaux along with the Super Tuscans Sassicaia, Ornellaia and Solaia.
With the observation that ‘every bottle of wine consumed on earth shrinks the inventory of that exact asset forever’, Burry refers to a key factor for fine wine performance. ‘Supply destruction is both continuous and a bullish supply dynamic that spirits, watches and art can never match.’
He suggests that a portfolio should be structured so that some level of net assets of up to 10% could be allocated to bonded fine wine. He also states that it is key to know when to buy and when not to.
Why invest in wine now
‘What got me here was I heard that wine is in a bit of a depression. My eyes, ears, and every hair on the back of my neck perk up when I hear of formerly highly valued assets beset by a case of the doldrums. Both the doctor and the devil in me.’ Michael Burry, 11th September 2026
Burry believes that investors in wine today stand to make four or five times their money over the next 20 years, as they're buying into a ‘depressed market’ and could also profit from a weakening dollar.
We have repeatedly stated the opportunity the fine wine market is offering for investors in 2026. As Burry identifies, fine wine prices have fallen by up to 30% for many key labels since the market peak in October 2022. Liv-ex data in 2026 reveals that the sector is firming up and individual wine are recording growth. Identifying those that have seen the bottom of the curve and are recording sustainable upside with potential for strong future returns is our primary goal.
Find out more about the current status of the market and top performing investment wines from our latest Vin-X Market Report and read Michael Burry’s substack here.
For further information call our expert team on 0203 284 2260 .