Discover which wines have been rated the top performing by price in the 2025 Liv-ex Classification.
Liv-ex has published its latest ranking of wines as the market turns and the timing is opportune for investors. As fine wine analysts report on key indicators suggesting price consolidation and burgeoning upward movement, the publication of the 2025 Classification provides timely insight to which wines to invest in.
Top ten most valuable wines in 2025 Liv-ex Classification
First Tier Top 10 Fine Wine | Region | Average Price* |
DRC, Romanée Conti | Burgundy | £172,461 |
DRC, La Tache | Burgundy | £45,061 |
DRC, Richebourg | Burgundy | £31,960 |
Chateau Petrus | Bordeaux | £31,124 |
Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin | Burgundy | £24,828 |
Screaming Eagle | Napa | £23,881 |
DRC, Echezaux | Burgundy | £23,775 |
Le Pin, Pomerol | Bordeaux | £23,765 |
Domaine des Comtes Lafon, Montrachet | Burgundy | £23,295 |
Bollinger, Vielles Vignes Francaises | Champagne | £14,747 |
Source: Liv-ex Classification 2025, published September 2025. * Liv-ex average trade price (12 x 75cl) 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025
What is the Liv-ex Classification?
Liv-ex is the largest secondary market in fine wine in the world, providing trading efficiency and price transparency to their merchant members and their clients who include private investors and collectors along with commercial customers.
The Liv-ex Classification sets out a hierarchy of the leading labels in the secondary market based primarily on price. The Classification was first established in 2009 and was inspired by the official 1855 Classification of Bordeaux.
At that time Liv-ex’s ranking was also originally focused on Bordeaux but in 2017 broadened its remit across all regions to reflect market diversification.
The Liv-ex Classification is updated every two years, unlike the 1855 Classification which has remained unchanged except for two changes since inception and St Emilion’s once-a-decade review. This 2025 Liv-ex Classification delivers essential pointers to wines that have managed to best weather the longest and deepest downturn in 25 years and those that offer the greatest potential for strong returns as the market returns to growth.
What factors shape the 2025 Liv-ex Classification?
Trade price is the key factor, as it was with the 1855 Classification. Given the market-wide price correction of c. 23% recorded by the Liv-ex 1000 index between June 2023 and June 2025, Liv-ex has adjusted its price benchmarks for their 2025 version.
Liv-ex Classification price brackets
Tier | 2025 Lower | 2025 Upper | 2023 Lower | 2023 Upper |
1st | £2,839 | No limit | £3,641 | No limit |
2nd | £781 | £2,838 | £1,002 | £3,640 |
3rd | £497 | £780 | £638 | £1,001 |
4th | £355 | £496 | £456 | £637 |
5th | £284 | £354 | £364 | £455 |
Source: Liv-ex Classification 2025, published September 2025
The wines were then assessed using the following criteria during the review period 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025:
- Average trade price (12 x 75cl case) calculated by taking the total value traded per label divided by the number of 9-litre cases sold.
- Five or more vintages of the wine must have been traded on Liv-ex to qualify.
- The wine must have traded 12 times or more on the exchange.
- Only the most recent 10 physical vintages count, avoiding value distortion of older, rarer vintages.
Liv-ex extracted the data from the trading information of more than 620 global merchant members, of which Vin-X is one. The focus on more recent vintages, ensures that supply is sufficient to reflect trade value without the rarity of older vintages being an overly strong influence on price.
Investment grade wines are ranked in the first and second tiers of the Classification, of which the first has 66 wines with a value of more than £2,839 (12 x 75cl) and is dominated by higher value Burgundies. The second tier has 140 wines from six countries with average trade prices between £781 - £2,838.
Number of qualifying wines by key regions
Region | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Tier 5 | Total |
Bordeaux | 10 | 37 | 27 | 17 | 15 | 106 |
Burgundy | 33 | 28 | 5 | 1 | - | 67 |
Tuscany | 5 | 19 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 45 |
Piedmont | 4 | 19 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 36 |
Champagne | 4 | 11 | - | 1 | - | 16 |
Rhone | 1 | 8 | 4 | 3 | - | 16 |
Napa | 6 | 8 | 1 | - | - | 15 |
Australia | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | 2 |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
| 303 |
Source: Liv-ex Classification 2025
2025 Classification Tier 1 wines
The overall 2025 Classification reflects the continuing expansion of the secondary market across regions with Bordeaux still the most prolific (106 qualifying wines), producing nearly a third of the 332 wines to make the rating. Burgundy remains a key driver of value producing the highest number of first tier wines.
Burgundy accounts for half of the top tier of wines in the 2025 Classification with 14 new entrants in this edition. Key for investors is the accessibility of these wines in 2025 with prices for some more than 20% lower than recorded in the 2023 ranking.
Top 10 most valuable Burgundy investment wines in 2025 Classification
Fine wine | 2025 Classification | Average price* |
DRC, Romanée Conti Grand Cru | 1st tier | £172,461 |
DRC, La Tache Grand Cru | 1st tier | £45,061 |
DRC, Richebourg Grand Cru | 1st tier | £31,960 |
Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Grand Cru | 1st tier | £24,828 |
DRC, Echezaux Grand Cru | 1st tier | £23,775 |
Dom. des Comtes Lafon Montrachet | 1st tier | £23,295 |
Dom. Leflaive Chevalier Montrachet | 1st tier | £14,381 |
Dom. Georges Roumier Bonne Mares | 1st tier | £13,651 |
Dom. Armand Rousseau, Gevrey-Chambertin, Premier Cru, Clos St Jacques | 1st tier | £10,372 |
Dom. Leflaive Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru | 1st tier | £9,847 |
Source: Liv-ex Classification 2025, * Liv-ex average trade price (12 x 75cl) 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025
DRC remains the most powerful brand on price in the world and dominates the pinnacle of the 2025 Classification with four of the top ten wines listed. Burgundy’s iconic wines are now priced to be more affordable for investors in H2 2025 and those that can should be taking advantage of the discounts on offer.
Bordeaux continues to be the most prolific fine wine producing region with a total of 106 wines listed in the 2025 Classification. In the 2023 edition, all five 1855 First Growths were ranked in the top ten most valuable wines overall, but have been superseded in 2025 primarily by higher value Burgundies. However, the iconic Pomerol estates, Petrus, Le Pin and Lafleur whose very low production levels secure higher prices, are ranked fourth and eighth respectively. As to be expected all five First Growths make the top ten most valuable Bordeaux labels in the Classification.
Top 10 most valuable Bordeaux investment wines in 2025 Classification
Fine wine | Appellation | 2025 Classification | Average price* |
Petrus | Pomerol | 1st tier | £31,124 |
Le Pin | Pomerol | 1st tier | £23,765 |
Lafleur | Pomerol | 1st tier | £6,999 |
Latour | Pauillac | 1st tier | £5,070 |
Ausone | St Emilion | 1st tier | £4,650 |
Lafite Rothschild | Pauillac | 1st tier | £4,514 |
Margaux | Margaux | 1st tier | £4,199 |
Cheval Blanc | St Emilion | 1st tier | £4,087 |
Mouton Rothschild | Pauillac | 1st tier | £3,982 |
Haut Brion | Pessac Leognan | 1st tier | £3,437 |
Source: Liv-ex Classification 2025, * Liv-ex average trade price (12 x 75cl) 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025
It’s important to remember that the Bordeaux 1855 First Growths are produced in significantly higher volume than Burgundy’s top wines, accordingly they are more accessible and their liquidity means they are cornerstone wine investments when building a robust portfolio.
Top 5 most valuable Champagne investment wines in 2025 Classification
Fine wine | 2025 Classification | Average price* |
Bollinger, Vielles Vignes Francaises | 1st tier | £14,747 |
Salon Le Mesnil-sur-Oger | 1st tier | £7,767 |
Egly-Ouriet, GC Brut Millesime | 1st tier | £4,112 |
Louis Roederer, Cristal Rosé | 1st tier | £4,043 |
Krug, Vintage Brut | 2nd tier | £2,819 |
Source: Liv-ex Classification 2025, * Liv-ex average trade price (12 x 75cl) 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025
Champagne: The market correction has been significant for Champagne as the region saw prices rocket during the Covid-induced bull run. The Liv-ex Champagne 50 benchmark regressed around 20% in the two years to 31st August 2025. It is therefore understandable that this market dynamic has seen the number of the region’s wines ranked in the top tier of the 2025 Classification fall.
Despite this trend Champagne remains the strongest region when measured over 5 years and top perfomers, such as Bollinger Vielles Vignes, which was ranked 10th in the overall Classification, are now more accessible. Investors have significant opportunities to position for future growth in H2 2025.
Top 5 most valuable Italian investment wines in 2025 Classification
Fine wine | Region | 2025 Classification | Average price* |
Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino Riserva | Piedmont | 1st tier | £8,705 |
Masseto | Tuscany | 1st tier | £6,368 |
Soldera Case Basse 100% Sangiovese | Tuscany | 1st tier | £5,604 |
Biondi-Santi, Brunello di Montalcino, Riserva | Tuscany | 1st tier | £3,846 |
Gaja, Barbaresco, Sori San Lorenzo | Piedmont | 1st tier | £3,244 |
Source: Liv-ex Classification 2025, * Liv-ex average trade price (12 x 75cl) 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025
Italy has become increasingly important to wine investors in recent years, and there has been a notable increase in the trading of Italian wines in the secondary market. 86 wines qualified for the 2025 Classification, a significant leap up from 65 in the 2023 edition. The region had the second highest number of wines to rank behind Bordeaux with Piedmont’s Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino Riserva the leader on price performance.
Top 5 most valuable Californian investment wines in 2025 Classification
Fine wine | 2025 Classification | Average price* |
Screaming Eagle Cab. Sauvignon | 1st | £23,881 |
Harlan Estate | 1st | £11,303 |
Screaming Eagle, The Flight | 1st | £6,877 |
Scarecrow, Cab. Sauvignon | 1st | £6,830 |
Promontory | 1st | £6,648 |
Source: Liv-ex Classification 2025, * Liv-ex average trade price (12 x 75cl) 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025
California’s top wines are enjoying growing demand with global investors and collectors and their ranking continues to improve in the Liv-ex Classification. The order of top US wines to make the leading five US wines of the 2025 edition is a repeat of the 2023 listing, revealing the consistent appeal of these great labels.
Napa’s Screaming Eagle remains the foremost US fine wine brand and is ranked sixth in the top ten most valuable wines overall. These wines are becoming more availble outside the US with some now being released to the market via La Place de Bordeaux and are strong candidates to diversify a fine wine portfolio.
Top 5 most valuable Rhone investment wines in 2025 Classification
Fine wine | 2025 Classification | Average price* |
Chateau Rayas, Chateauneuf du Pape | 1st | £8,500 |
Domaine Jean Louis Chave Hermitage R | 2nd | £2,831 |
E. Guigal, Cote Rotie, La Turque | 2nd | £2,529 |
E. Guigal, Cote Rotie, La Landonne | 2nd | £2,323 |
Domaine du Pegau, Chateauneuf du Pape, Cuvee du Capo | 2nd | £2,183 |
Source: Liv-ex Classification 2025, * Liv-ex average trade price (12 x 75cl) 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025
Rhone suffered the largest decline in prices during the market correction, but recent months have seen evidence of the region reaching its market low-point and some upward trajectory in certain wines. The overall trend has seen Rhone’s top wines become highly accessible and there is a real opportunity for buyers to pick up some excellent bargains in H2 2025.
Liv-ex categorises a small number of outstanding fine wines from Spain, Australia, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and Switzerland in the Classification and in its Liv-ex Rest of the World benchmark, which also has some Californian wines in its composition. Australia’s Penfolds Grange and Spain’s Vega Sicilia Unico are notable wines for investors to consider.
Our view
The 2025 Classification provides clear insight to the impact of the market conditions since the 2023 edition was published. The period under review in that edition included the bull run which ended in October 2022. The fact that Liv-ex had to move the price brackets to define the tiers to the extent they did compared to 2023 is very telling.
Our recent blog on cycles in the fine wine market shows that, like all assets, prices can come under pressure, but also that they will recover. The finite nature of tangible fine wine and the supply and demand dynamics will support growth in the future. Current analysis points to certain regions and key wines reaching a point of price consolidation and increasing stability with growing upside.
Those investors who have added to, are planning to do so, or looking to start a wine portfolio in 2025, are buying at significant market low prices with the potential for strong upside in the future. We view this as a key period for wine investment and our expert team is here to guide investors and to help them acquire some of the most aspirational fine wine in the world.
For more information on current market conditions, see our latest Report and speak to a member of our expert team to understand which wines they are focussing on right now on 0203 384 2262.