Bottling Time: Does Ageability Still Matter for Fine Wine? Pre-Webinar Questionnaire Survey

The physical, economic and cultural conditions that have historically supported fine wine’s capacity to age are increasingly being questioned. Climate change, shifting attitudes towards time and collecting, pressure on the economics of long-term ageing, and new preservation technologies are reshaping how we think about wine’s evolution over time.

Does ageability still matters for fine wine?

We invite you to share your views on the role and importance of ageability in the future of fine wine. The results will be shared and discuss during our open-to-all webinar Bottling Time on December 10, 2026.

1.Which statement comes closest to your view?(Required.)

A fine wine should be capable of improving significantly with age

Ageability is largely irrelevant to how we should define fine wine today

A fine wine should be capable of going through time, but does not necessarily need to improve

Ageability can enhance a fine wine’s value, but is not a defining characteristic

2.Compared with 10 years ago, how important is ageability to the commercial value of fine wine today?(Required.)

More important

Same importance

Less important

3.Who benefits most from a wine’s potential to increase in financial value as it ages?(Required.)

Other (please specify)

5.How confident are you in the wine industry’s capacity to produce age-worthy wine in the near future?(Required.)

Not confident at all

Slightly confident

Moderately confident

Confident

Very confident

6.How confident are you in the wine industry’s capacity to sell age-worthy wine in the near future?(Required.)

Not confident at all

Slightly confident

Moderately confident

Confident

Very confident

7.What are the main obstacles to producing wines for long-term ageing today? Select up to three(Required.)

Growing grapes with the balance and structure required for long-term ageing under changing climatic conditions

Reconciling long-term ageing potential with styles that are attractive and approachable when young

Ensuring closures and packaging provide reliable, consistent protection over long ageing periods

A commercial model that favours earlier release, faster stock turnover and shorter holding periods

Reduced willingness or ability to buy wines that require significant time before reaching maturity

Insufficient certainty about how today's wines will develop over the long term

None: I do not see significant obstacles to producing age-worthy wine today

Other (please specify)

9.Who should bear the cost and risk of ageing wine?(Required.)

Primarily the producer

Primarily distributors/merchants

Primarily restaurants

Primarily the consumer

Other (please specify)

10.Which statement best describes the future of ageability in fine wine?(Required.)

Ageability will remain one of the defining sources of fine wine's value

Ageability will remain important, but for a smaller group of wines and consumers

The emphasis will shift from ability to age towards ability to drink well across different stages of life

Consumers will increasingly expect producers and the trade to do the ageing for them

Ageability will become primarily a cultural/prestige attribute rather than a commercial one

Ageability will become significantly less relevant

Other (please specify)

11.Complete this sentence: “Ageability will continue to create value for fine wine if…”(Required.)

13.Which best describes your organisation?(Required.)

Producer (estate, domaine, château, winery)

Négociant, importer, distributor

Merchant/retailer

Auction house or secondary market platform

Restaurant, hotel or wine bar

Education and media

Other (please specify)

14.To receive your invitation to the webinar on december 10th, enter your email address below (optional)