Langtons will launch its first Classification of International Wine in 2026, expanding its fine wine benchmarking system – which has acted as a trusted guide for the local market since 1990 – beyond Australia for the first time.
The new classification, due to be unveiled in early August, will include 160 wines from major wine-producing regions including France, Italy, New Zealand, the US, Spain, Portugal and Germany.
Langtons’ General Manager Tamara Grischy said: “Australian wine palates are diverse and ever-expanding, with international wines holding an established presence in the collections of the country’s top wine drinkers. The Langtons Classification of International Wine will be a vital resource for these collectors by highlighting the finest global wines that drive the Australian auction market.
“Our Langtons Classification of Australian Wine has been a trusted source for both producers and drinkers alike for over three decades now and we’re very excited to impart our expertise to global wines too as the first of its kind in the country.”
Based on five years’ worth of secondary market auction data from international wines traded through Langtons’ platform, the Langtons Classification of International Wine aims to provide insights into secondary market trends to assist investors and collectors of fine wine. It will also act as an authoritative guide for those seeking high-quality international wines to be enjoyed now.
Michael Anderson, Head of Auctions at Langtons, added: “We look at every bottle of wine internationally that’s sent into Langtons and all its data. This includes aspects such as a wine’s previous bidding history; its clearance rate; and changes to its current value versus when the wine was bought.”
Reflective of the country’s top fine wine collectors, Anderson says the resource will feature a mix of hard-to-find cult classics and well-known fine wines, pointing to shifts in the market. He also hints that some of the wines that would be expected to appear in the inaugural edition of the classification have not made the list – though that doesn’t mean they won’t be in the future.
“Without giving too much away, the wines included in the Classification of International Wine are pointing out some key market trends that will prove valuable to investors and collectors alike.
“Scarcity plays a vital role in how the list is made, so if only a barrel is made of a wine, very few people will actually sell it and if they happen to get their hands on one, they’re more likely to keep it. So that results in less bottles of that particular wine in the auction space and data for us to use,” Anderson explains.
While the Classification of International Wine focuses on wines from overseas, Anderson highlights the opportunity it provides for benchmarking local First Classified wines against global counterparts.
“For example, a wine such as the Bass Phillip Reserve Pinot Noir or Henschke Hill of Grace, both sit easily alongside the greats of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Tuscany. This Classification will be a trusted tool to compare wines to see how incredible the quality of our Australian wines are. After all, Langtons was founded on the belief that the best Australian wines have a place at the world’s top tables.”
The Langtons Classifications are inspired by the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, which ranked wines largely by sales history. International wines will be listed as Classified only, unlike the Australian guide, which also includes a higher First Classified tier.
The eighth Langtons Classification of Australian Wine was released in late 2023, and seen as a shake-up, with more cool-climate styles reflecting demand for lighter, more elegant wines.
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