Second wines back in fashion, says Liv-ex

The first growth’s second wines have been putting more distance between themselves and their parent labels since 2014, according to Liv-ex figures.

The second wines were among the labels that benefited the most from the China-driven bull market but, conversely, were also among the hardest hit when the market crashed and the first growths in particular fell from grace.

Since 2011 the first growths and second wines indices have mirrored each other fairly closely.

Since July 2015 however, they’ve started to part ways and by the end of last year the divorce was strikingly palpable.

Since July last year the first growth tracker, the Fine Wine 50, has declined 1.3% but the Second Wine 50 index has risen 4.5%.

The top three best-performing wines in the wider Bordeaux 500 index are all second wines: Petit Mouton, Pavillon Rouge and Carruades de Lafite.

The news is not entirely new. Back in April last year the second wines, their impressive returns and continued relevance to the market were examined by the drinks business here.