Known for its legendary proportions and almost limitless ageing potential Vega Sicilia is the Spanish fine wine that investors want to get. Bar Pingus, it is Spain’s only wine that has any real value to an investor, but boy oh boy, what the country might lack in quantity, Vega Sicilia more than make up for in quality.

Although a shroud of mystery surrounds its name (no, it has nothing to do with Sicily but literally translated it means Cecilia’s field), there is nothing secretive about Vega Sicilia. Once almost owned by Julio Iglesias, the Spanish crooner was pipped at the post by billionaire industrialist David Alvarez for Vega Sicilia’s purchase in 1982. David’s son Pablo today runs the show although rumour has it that family issues could see Alvarez junior step down.

What has once been a noble estate in the 19th century had sadly fallen into disrepair when Alvarez purchased Vega Sicilia. Gone were the 500,000 vines that had been planted and had yielded prolific fruit (mostly Bordeaux varieties, including Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Petit Verdot and Malbec but also Tempranillo and Garnacha). However, as mismanaged the estate had been in the late 19 th and early 20 th century it had produced some exceptional wine, its terroir was still very, very good and its reputation was still (more or less) intact. Alvarez simply threw the spotlight on what clever wine investors had known about for years: Unico.

The estate produces three wines, the fabled Unico but also Valbuena and Reserva Especial. Although there is no doubt that Unico is the grande dame of the domain it is only produced in exceptional years, and its very, very, long ageing means impatient investors often lose interest. Valbueno is something akin to Unico’s naughty little sister. It is produced from younger vines and is released earlier, but lacks to booming opulence of Unico (which, according to many, is actually a good thing). Reserva Especial is made from a blend of vintages and can include wines up to 35 years old. None of the three wines is especially cheap. 2019s release prices of the 2009 vintage of Unico (98 points) in December 2018 at almost €3,000 a case had already seen a significant rise less than six months later. The 2017 vintage is currently topping the charts at over €1,500 (and holding its value).