BUYING EN PRIMEUR

Everything you need to know about the En Primeur process

What is En Primeur?

Buying wine En Primeur or “wine futures” refers to the process of buying wine whilst it is still in the barrel before it is bottled and released to the market. This system is commonly associated with Bordeaux wines but is now also used in other wine-producing regions. The term “primeur” means something that is new or first, so in the context of wine, “En Primeur” signifies this early purchase of wine while it is still maturing in the barrel. Buying it at this early stage is then often a way to secure a potentially lower price or gain access to limited-production wines. The benefit of purchasing wines En Primeur means you can buy at a price exclusive of Duty and VAT, which you won’t have to pay until you withdraw them from storage. The wines are usually shipped from the producers anywhere between eight months to several years after the vintage, depending on the region and the ageing requirements.

Which wines are sold En Primeur?

The most popular En Primeur wines are from the historic wine regions of Bordeaux, owing to their premier vintage and graceful ageing, but this has now been adopted in Burgundy, the Rhône Valley and Northern Italy.

How does En Primeur work in Bordeaux?

Every spring after the vintage, the cru classé properties of Bordeaux produce young barrels from the previous year’s harvest. These are tasted and assessed directly from the barrels by international critics and members of the wine trade both in Bordeaux and abroad since the pandemic. The châteaux then release a large proportion of their production for sale at an opening price, often lower than the price of the wine after it is bottled and released. This is sold in strict allocations to wine brokers in Bordeaux, known as négociants and in turn to wine merchants. Buyers can purchase allocations of these wines in advance – this purchase is essentially a commitment to buy the wine once it is bottled and ready for delivery. This system dates back to the 18th century when Bordeaux négociants used to visit the local châteaux before harvest to buy grapes right off the vine.

What Is The Process Of Buying En Primeur?

Wines are purchased at an “In Bond” price, and by the case, typically paid for at the time of purchase or shortly thereafter, and means they are exclusive of Duty and VAT. The wine keeps ageing in the barrels at the châteaux and then is usually shipped 2-3 years after the vintage has matured and been bottled.

When buying En Primeur through Cru Wine, we will let you know when your wines arrive in the UK, giving you the option to withdraw them and be delivered to you to store them, or to keep them in safe and secure storage with us at our partner warehouse.

Why buy En Primeur?

If you’re looking to build a collection of fine wine, En Primeur is a great place to start. The release price is typically the lowest price that the wine will ever be and will be considerably cheaper than the future price of the wine on the open market. Purchasing En Primeur also guarantees the perfect provenance of the wine as it has been kept in one place. It can also be your only opportunity to secure wines made in very small quantities, as these rarely make their way to the secondary market.

While this can be a cost-effective option of buying premium wine as an investment, you can also just keep the wine for personal enjoyment later on, or have the best of both. If you’re unsure of what is possible with your budget and preferences, we have a knowledgeable and experienced team who will be able to recommend something that suits you.

Our En Primeur wines are offered In Bond, which means all shipping and bottling charges are included. The bottled wines are shipped up to two years after purchase. On arrival, wine can be delivered directly to you or stored Under Bond on your behalf at our safe and secure warehouse, London City Bond. What’s great is you won’t have to pay any storage charges with us until your wines arrive in our Bonded warehouse.

En Primeur wines from Bordeaux usually have a set closing date for orders, which will always be included in our offers to you. We’ll indicate an anticipated date of when we expect the vintage to be bottled and shipped to the UK, but this will vary from producer to producer, so we cannot guarantee an exact date. Once shipped we will notify you by email.

Why buy En Primeur?

Potential Cost Savings: Buying wine En Primeur can be more cost-effective, as the initial prices are usually lower than the prices after the wine is released.

Access to Rare Wines: It allows consumers to secure allocations of highly sought-after wines that may be difficult to obtain once released.

Investment Potential: With the exceptional quality and renown of Bordeaux and Burgundy, the value and quality of the wine will increase over time, making it a stable and reliable investment.

Buying wine En Primeur need not be a complicated or needlessly expensive process. We’ve done the legwork, know the processes and can best advise you on what, where and how to purchase En Primeur wine as a solid investment. For any wine-related queries, we’re just a click or call away.