Episode 11: Uncorking the Investment Potential of Wine (Dr Sara-Adami Johnson, RBC Family Office Services)

Can wine bring growth to your portfolio? How does wine express itself in the world of digital assets? Tania’s guest, Dr Sara Adami-Johnson (Vice President, HNW Planning Services, RBC Family Office Services) is an international estate, art and digital legacy planner. In addition to being a lawyer and trusts and estates practitioner, Sara also has a PhD in International Business and art advisory expertise (a perfect multi-disciplinary blend for considering issues around the investment potential of that “liquid art” in your bottle). Tania and Sara discuss wine as an “alternative” asset class, where wine sits on a “pie chart” of diversified investment holdings, and factors to keep in mind if investing in the “illiquid” tangible asset of wine to “supercharge” your portfolio - including how to mitigate the risk of the devaluation of your holdings. (No one wants a “Billionaire’s Vinegar” situation). And as some luxury wine producers introduce uber-specialty products into the digital space, Tania and Sara also explore the world of NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and how the blockchain may appeal to wine investors and wine enthusiasts alike. Similar to investing in fine art, jewellery or vintage cars, scarcity and provenance are central to assessing the value of one’s wine investment. But ultimately, there are no guarantees in this world. Beauty is in the eye of the taster.