­­­Investors are chasing vanishing yields at a time when even German bunds have gone into negative territory for the first time. No wonder then that new asset classes are gaining in popularity – although ‘new’ is perhaps not the right word to describe wine, a commodity that has been appreciated for centuries.

Wine as an investment is a totally different concept, however. Anyone considering putting money into a few bottles needs to remember that ‘liquidating’ your assets does not mean getting out the corkscrew.

Here are a few tips to guide you along the way.

Don’t expect a quick turnaround

Experts advise that you would expect to wait a minimum of five years before selling, with the only exceptions being some of the top Bordeaux.

An investment wine is not only one that will age well but also one that will be in demand when you come to sell, so anticipating this demand often means sticking to the tried and tested.

The most in-demand investment wines are fine Bordeaux and Grand Cru Burgundy.

However, there are clearly other exciting options. The best thing is to stick to established wineries with a good track record. Phillippe Martinet, of Estate Wines, pointed out that the real problem was not choosing between an Old World wine or a New World wine: “It’s the fact that it’s so easy to get the wrong wine or even the right wine at the wrong time, if you don’t know your wine very well.

“If you’re new to the world of fine wines, you can’t just go up to a wine merchant and ask to buy €20,000 of best wine. The client-merchant relationship is very important when it comes to fine wine, and the merchant will probably be saving his very best for his most regular and loyal clients, those who have been buying collectible wines for the past 20 years.

Invest in as many bottles of a wine as you can afford

You have to think about the buyer once you come to sell your asset: and while you may find someone who wants to indulge in a rare bottle, most collectors will want a minimum of three, while some of the auction houses and wine exchanges will only accept full cases.

If you are not interested in more than one wine of a particular vintage, consider collecting verticals of single wines. You could create an intriguing mix.

There are no great speculative wines in abundance, and that’s what makes them so rare – but that’s also why fine wine is a risky business

Most wine fund advisers suggest that you will need around €10,000 to get going, as anything below that will not make the costs of storage, insurance and transport worth the effort. Again, some auction houses and wine exchanges impose minimum amounts.

And make sure that there is a proper paper trail for the bottles, as buyers will want proof of their provenance, all the way back to the vineyard.

Benji Gatt,the head of business development for the food and beverage division of the Vivian Corporation, suggests a “healthy mix of top end wines” hailing from Bordeaux, but points out that the collector should not forget that wines are not just for laying down as an investment.

“Keep a range for yourself, down to the fast moving supermarket easy-drinking wines. One can’t be an elitist. This is why we stock wine for every kind of budget.”

Store the wines professionally

Just as you would never hang a painting in bright sunlight or in a humid room, you should also invest in proper storage of your wine. And remember that your buyer may want proof that it has been properly stored.

If you opt to store you wines at home, don’t forget to get appropriate insurance.

Know what your wines are worth

Most wines are sold through auction, either through an auction house with a physical presence or an online one. Expect to pay a commission of up to 20 per cent for the former, according to recent reports.

There are also several wine exchanges, some of which only tailor to particular wines like Bordeaux.

As with all assets, timing is everything. John Bugeja, the brand executive at Attard & Co. Wines & Spirits, advises doing substantial research both before you buy and when you decide to sell.

“The cost of investment grade wines can vary considerably, by as much as 20 per cent. Therefore, when buying for investment it’s critical to shop around and sniff out the best market price. This in turn should allow you to make a big return when you decide to sell them.

“The best investment-grade wines are produced in small quantities (up to a maximum of 20,000 cases) and it’s the demand-supply imbalance brought about through their consumption that drives prices higher over time.

“Check out prices on reliable search engines such as wine-searcher.com while the best source for investment grade wines is liv-ex.com. Liv-ex.com not only lists fine wines but also monitors them on a monthly basis. The majority of the index consists of Bordeaux wines – an indication of the overall market – even though wines from Burgundy, the Rhone, Champagne and Italy are also included.

“In order to qualify for the index, wines must have attracted significant acclaim from a leading critic (a 95-point score or above) and attract a regular market on Liv-ex,” he said.

Mr Martinet added that there were other things to keep in mind when buying your collectible wine, such as the VAT you have to pay on your purchase.

“There are no great speculative wines in abundance, and that’s what makes them so rare – but that’s also why fine wine is a risky business,” he said.