Wine guide
Vega Sicilia
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.
Alvarez to the rescue
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.
The Alvarez family’s greatest desire? To make Vega Sicilia great again
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.
Long ageing means epic prices
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).