Inside The Nation’s Wine Cellars:
At Wine Ark, we’ve always believed that data tells a story — one that leaves bias and emotion at the door. This year, we set out to tell that story by leveraging insights from over 195,000 bottles placed into managed wine storage across Australia in 2024. Our goal? To uncover emerging trends, celebrate the diversity of wines being stored, and highlight the regions, producers, and varietals that have captured the imagination of collectors over this calendar year.
Beyond celebrating these wines, we aimed to reinforce Wine Ark’s position as a trusted leader in wine storage while promoting the importance of proper cellarage. The results reflect collector preferences and are a testament to the strength and resilience of the wine industry in a challenging year.
Our 2024 Most Cellared report varies from Wine Ark’s comprehensive Triannual Most Collected review, taking a look into every bottle passing through our wine storage. For the first time in years, we provide an update, uncovering which labels and varietals added in the last calendar year across 15 state-of-the-art facilities have people palate’s captivated.
What We Learned from 195,000 Bottles Stored in 2024
Most Cellared Wine of the Year
Drumroll, please! The most cellared wine of 2024 is none other than the 2021 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay. Chardonnay’s rise in collector circles is undeniable, with seven Chardonnays appearing in the Top 25 most stored wines and four making it into the Top 10. It’s clear that the appetite for age-worthy whites continues to grow, cementing Chardonnay’s place alongside traditional red heavyweights.
Top Wine Regions of 2024
When it comes to wine regions, Barossa Valley took the crown this year, representing 23.4% of all wines housed in wine storage in Australia, followed by Margaret River at 14.8%. Rounding out the top three was the Hunter Valley, showcasing its enduring appeal for collectors. Notably, Beechworth emerged as a standout, claiming the 9th spot after placing two wines in the Top 10 — a remarkable achievement for this boutique region.
Top Collectibles: NSW Wines Shine
NSW wines had a strong showing in 2024, led by the Lake’s Folly Shiraz Merlot Petit Verdot 2022, which became the most collected wine from the Hunter Valley. This vintage was particularly notable as it marked the first time Lake’s Folly’s flagship red excluded Cabernet — a bold move that paid off with collectors.
Other standout NSW wines in the Top 50 included:
- Lake’s Folly 2023 Chardonnay
- 2024 Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon
- 2024 Tyrrell’s Vat 47 Chardonnay
- 2023 Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon
Championing Boutique Producers in 2024
One of the most heartening trends this year was the dominance of smaller, family-run wineries in collectors’ cellars. Wines like the 2022 Savaterre Chardonnay from Beechworth, which ranked as the 7th most cellared wine of the year, highlight collectors’ trust and appreciation for boutique producers. This trend is a testament to the quality and character that smaller wineries bring to the table.
Keppell Smith, owner and winemaker at Savaterre, shared his reaction:
“Well, well! That’s a surprise for such a small producer! We put a lot of effort into delivering a great wine. I’m flattered and thrilled that people are using excellent storage for our wines. It’s terrific to be in such great company.”
What’s Next for Wine Collectors and Wine Ark in 2025?
Despite a challenging year for the wine industry overall, Cuff also noted an interesting uptick in wine storage this year.
“There was a 15% increase in the number of bottles placed into storage from 2023 to 2024. Whether this reflects clients taking advantage of discounted parcels from retailers and wineries, or a shift toward purchasing larger volumes at lower price points to save for later.”
Looking ahead, the data from 2024 gives us plenty to be excited about. The growing popularity of Chardonnay, the resurgence of boutique producers, and the diversity of regions represented all point to a dynamic future for wine collecting. At Wine Ark, we’re committed to continuing our role as trusted partners for collectors, ensuring their investments are stored under the best possible conditions.
We’re also planning new initiatives to provide our clients with even greater insights and services, so stay tuned for what’s to come in 2025.
Start Your Wine Storage Journey with Wine Ark
Ready to take your wine collection to the next level? At Wine Ark, we offer Australia’s most trusted wine storage solutions, ensuring every bottle is kept in perfect condition across our purpose-built locations. Explore our services or contact our team today to learn more about how we can help you protect and preserve your collection.
Continue reading to discover what the country’s leading wine cellarage is housing for yourself by shopping 2024’s most cellared wine now!
The Results:
Top Wines Added to Wine Ark’s Cellars
- Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2021
- Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2018
- Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 2024
- Mount Mary Quintet Cabernet Blend 2022
- Tolpuddle Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023
- Giaconda Estate Chardonnay 2022
- Savaterre Chardonnay 2022
- Pierro Chardonnay 2023
- Standish Lamella Shiraz 2022
- Lake’s Folly Shiraz Merlot Petit Verdot 2022
Top 5 Producers Added to our Wine Cellars
- Penfolds
- Rockford
- Tyrrells
- Lake’s Folly
- Mount Mary
Top 5 Varieties Added to Wine Storage
- Shiraz
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Cabernet Blend
The Most Common Vintages Added to our Wine Storage
- 2022
- 2021
- 2023
Top Regions Added to Wine Ark’s Cellars
- Barossa Valley
- Margaret River
- Hunter
- Yarra Valley
- McLaren Vale