Cult Wines

Cult Wines, established in 2007, operates as a fine wine investment management firm, aiming to position fine wine as a credible alternative asset class. The company was founded by the father-and-son team, Philip and Tom Gearing. Philip Gearing, the Chairman, brings a blend of financial market experience and fine wine expertise, having previously launched a specialist Burgundy merchant and co-founded a digital platform for wine price transparency. CEO Tom Gearing developed his passion for wine during trips with his father and further honed his business acumen as a runner-up on the BBC's 'The Apprentice' in 2012. His journey began while at university, helping his brother with a wine investment website, which revealed a market opportunity that led to the formation of Cult Wines after he graduated.

The firm's core business revolves around creating and managing bespoke fine wine portfolios for a global client base spanning 83 countries. It caters to a range of investors, from private clients and family offices to wealth managers, with investment tiers starting from approximately $12,500 (£10,000). Unlike a fund, clients own the physical bottles and cases of wine, which are stored in secure, bonded warehouses. Revenue is generated through annual management fees, which start at 2.95% and cover storage, insurance, authentication, and portfolio management. As of mid-2023, the company reported managing assets worth £290 million.

Cult Wines provides an end-to-end service that includes portfolio construction based on client risk appetite and investment term, wine sourcing, storage, and eventual exit strategies. The firm leverages data analytics, AI, and market research to identify investment-grade wines, primarily from regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and Tuscany. In a move to enhance market transparency and liquidity, the company launched CultX, a digital trading platform for buying, selling, and collecting investment-grade wine. This platform integrates ten years of historical data from Wine-Searcher, providing users with robust tools to manage their portfolios. The company's expansion has been significant, with offices opened in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Dubai, and North America to serve its growing international clientele.

Keywords: fine wine investment, portfolio management, alternative assets, wine collecting, wine trading, asset management, tangible assets, wine portfolio, investment grade wine, CultX, wine storage, wine valuation, Bordeaux investment, Burgundy investment, wine market analysis, wine finance, luxury assets, passion assets, wine investors, global wine market