Buyer beware
Buyer beware. I'm an experienced investor across different asset classes and let me just say that Vinovest is one you want to avoid. I'm 4 years into the 10 year time horizon I opted in for, and I'm currently down 9% unrealized gains. Oh yea, if you've read some of the other reviews on here you've probably heard something about fees. They are very real on this platform and borderline criminal. As I am attempting to sell my entire portfolio now, I'm down another 10% in paid monthly fews. So let's summarize: 19% loss in 4 years. I told the rep I spoke to about closing my account down that I would have to have my current wine collection appreciate 25-30% over the remaining 6 years just to breakeven (off-setting future fees) and they had nothing to say. They are probably numb to "investors" on their platform waking-up and finding better, more transparent options to park their money. I just started the process of listing my wines for sale today. Based off the other poor reviews, I'm not holding my breath on a successful outcome.
Reply from Vinovest
Hello Stephen,
Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective. We understand your frustration and appreciate you giving us the opportunity to respond.
First, we want to acknowledge that fine wine investing is a long-term strategy, and it’s not uncommon to experience periods of limited or negative unrealized gains, especially in down-market cycles like the one we've seen across the fine wine industry over the past two years. Unlike more liquid assets, fine wine does not offer immediate returns or dividends, and the growth curve tends to be non-linear—often accelerating after several years of proper aging and market positioning.
We also want to clarify that while we do not charge advisory or performance fees, we do apply monthly storage and insurance fees to ensure your wines are maintained in optimal, secure conditions. These fees are clearly disclosed from the beginning and are necessary for the physical safekeeping of your investment. That said, we recognize the impact they can have, particularly if liquidation is requested before the wines reach their peak market value.
Your wines have now been listed for sale, and while we can’t guarantee a specific sale timeframe, they are being actively marketed to a wide network of external buyers across the global fine wine trade—not limited to Vinovest’s internal ecosystem. Our team will continue working on your behalf to help achieve the best possible outcome.
Thank you again for your candid feedback—we take it seriously and are committed to improving wherever we can.