There are wines that need no introduction, and Sassicaia from Tenuta San Guido is undoubtedly one of them. The first Super Tuscan ever created, the only Italian wine with its own dedicated appellation—Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC—and a permanent fixture in the indices tracking the global fine wine market, it is arguably Italy's most liquid wine asset. It can be bought and sold almost anywhere in the world, from London to Hong Kong, with remarkably tight bid-ask spreads. For this reason alone, Sassicaia represents the ideal starting point for anyone approaching wine with an investment mindset.
Yet simply saying, "I'll buy Sassicaia," is not enough.
Not every vintage offers the same quality profile—or the same value proposition. Looking at the most recent releases tells the story clearly: the 2019 vintage traded at €449, the 2021 at almost €400, the 2022 at just over €290, while the 2023 was released at €289.90. A price gap exceeding 50% separates the highest and lowest ends of the range. Understanding what justifies that difference is, ultimately, understanding how value is created in fine wine.
What Determines the Price of a Vintage?
Three factors, above all, drive the market.
The first is critical acclaim. The 2019 vintage was widely hailed as one of the finest harvests in Bolgheri's modern history, receiving outstanding scores from leading international critics. Unsurprisingly, the market reflected that enthusiasm in its pricing.
The second is remaining availability. As bottles are consumed or disappear into private collections, the volume available on the open market steadily declines. Scarcity increases, and prices tend to follow—a mechanism as old as any collectible market.
The third is maturity. A vintage that is already approaching its optimal drinking window includes years of careful cellar ageing that someone else has effectively financed on your behalf.
Young vintages typically enter the market at their lowest initial price—the so-called release price. They offer the greatest appreciation potential, in exchange for the patience required to cellar them and the associated storage costs. This is why experienced collectors almost always buy at release: Sassicaia's history consistently shows that purchasing outstanding vintages on launch has rewarded those willing to wait.
Our Assessment, Vintage by Vintage
2019 is the undisputed benchmark. Those fortunate enough to own it should think twice before letting it go, as market availability has already begun to tighten.
2021, in our view, currently represents the most compelling balance between quality and value. It is an exceptional vintage, highly praised by critics, yet still trading well below the levels reached by the 2019, leaving meaningful room for price convergence over time.
2022 surprised many with its elegance and precision, selling through remarkably quickly. Its rapid disappearance from retailers' shelves is itself a meaningful market signal.
2023 is the quintessential release purchase: today's entry point with virtually all of its long-term upside still ahead.
If we had to summarise our view, it would be this: 2021 is the smartest choice for buyers seeking the best combination of recognised quality and current market pricing, while 2023 is the ideal option for long-term collectors looking to enter at the bottom of the value curve. For serious enthusiasts, acquiring both is arguably the most elegant strategy—two distinct chapters of the same story, purchased at exactly the right moment.
Provenance Matters More Than Anything Else
One final principle applies equally to Sassicaia and to every great collectible wine: provenance is everything.
Bottles purchased through authorised channels and stored under impeccable conditions command greater value—whether the moment comes to resell them or, perhaps more rewarding still, to open them. This is why every bottle leaving our cellar in Spello is shipped in professional packaging and backed by an impeccable storage history.
As for the investment horizon, Sassicaia offers one of Italy's most generous ageing windows. The finest vintages typically reach their peak between ten and thirty years after harvest, meaning that buyers of the 2021 or 2023 today have decades of flexibility ahead of them. They may decide to sell when market conditions are favourable, or simply uncork the bottle when the occasion truly deserves it.
It is precisely this dual potential—financial and emotional—that makes Sassicaia the quintessential investment wine. Whatever the market may do, the bottle never loses its intrinsic purpose or its capacity to deliver extraordinary pleasure.
Few assets in the world can make the same claim.
Compare the Sassicaia vintages currently available at enotecaproperzio.com and receive personalised advice on building your own vertical collection.
The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and investment in fine wine is not a regulated financial product. Prices and availability are accurate at the time of publication.
Sassicaia Tenuta San Guido 2021 0.75 lt.
Sassicaia Tenuta San Guido is the Italian myth of wines in the world. Produced by Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta and the very expert Giacomo Tachis, today the bottle with the unmistakable star on the label represents an icon of Made in Italy which, year after year, confirms it and also makes it a valid investment product. 100/100v by R. Parker.
Sassicaia Tenuta San Guido 2023 0.75 lt.
Sassicaia Tenuta San Guido is the Italian myth of wines in the world. Produced by Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta and the very expert Giacomo Tachis, today the bottle with the unmistakable star on the label represents an icon of Made in Italy which, year after year, confirms it and also makes it a valid investment product. 98/100 from R. Parker.
Sassicaia Tenuta San Guido 2023 0.75 lt.
Sassicaia Tenuta San Guido is the Italian myth of wines in the world. Produced by Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta and the very expert Giacomo Tachis, today the bottle with the unmistakable star on the label represents an icon of Made in Italy which, year after year, confirms it and also makes it a valid investment product. 98/100 from R. parker.