Protecting Your Wine Collection: Avoid These Costly Storage Mistakes

Fine wine is a legacy, an asset, and a passion. But without the right protection, its value, provenance, and quality can be lost.

At Octavian, we are more than just a storage provider. We are custodians of the world’s most precious wine collections. We don’t just store your wine; we safeguard its future. We uphold its integrity with a commitment to security, financial strength, compliance, and expert care—ensuring that your wine is protected for generations to come.

Yet, many collectors unknowingly put their wine at risk by choosing the wrong storage provider. Before entrusting your collection to anyone, ask these essential questions—and ensure that the answer meets the gold standard of custodianship.

Key Risk: In the event of your provider’s bankruptcy, can you prove legal ownership? Without clear documentation, you may become just another unsecured creditor, fighting for what should rightfully be yours.

What to Ask:

• Is my name explicitly labelled on my wine cases?
• Can I access records proving my ownership at any time?
• What happens to my wine if the company goes bankrupt?

The Octavian Difference:
As custodians, we ensure that your wine is yours, always. Every case in our care is labelled with your name and a unique rotation number, acting like a vehicle registration plate for absolute traceability. Our online portal provides instant access to your ownership records—offering proof and peace of mind at all times.

Key Risk: Storage is a long-term commitment, but not all companies have the financial strength to guarantee their survival. If your provider collapses, what happens to your wine?

What to Ask:

• Does my provider have a strong financial foundation?
• Have I checked their balance sheet?
• What happens to my collection if they go out of business?

The Octavian Difference:
Our financial strength is your security. With over 30 years of stability, Octavian’s strong financial foundation was born out of our mission to provide extraordinary care for fine wine.

A critical part of this care is protecting customers substantial investments and ensuring real peace of mind.

A rock solid debt free balance sheet and consistent profitability evidence this commitment.

With ongoing investment in our facilities, technology, and people—ensuring your collection remains in the safest hands, today and in the future.

Key Risk: Not all ‘temperature-controlled’ facilities are created equal. Variations in temperature, humidity, air quality, light exposure, and vibration can ruin even the finest wines. Will your fine wine mature optimally? Or will it be lacklustre and a disappointment after your long wait to enjoy it?

What to Ask:

• What exact temperature and humidity levels do you maintain?
• Is your storage facility naturally suited for fine wine maturation?
• Can I see real-time data on the storage conditions of my collection?

The Octavian Difference:
Our naturally cool, underground stone vaults provide the ultimate fine wine environment. With precisely controlled temperature, humidity, air circulation, and security, your wine matures under the most stable and optimal conditions—just as the world’s leading collectors and merchants expect.

Key Risk: Many wine storage providers either offer only partial insurance or require you to arrange your own coverage. If your collection is of high value or includes rare bottles, finding adequate insurance as an individual can be both costly and complex—especially given the current crisis in the global insurance market.

Insurers are tightening policies, increasing premiums and excess levels, and in many cases, capping claims. The challenge? Unlike a large storage provider that can spread risk across thousands of clients, an individual policyholder bears the full weight of single-point risk. This often results in:

• Higher premiums due to the inability to spread risk
• Limited coverage for collections stored at home or in non-specialist facilities
• Difficulty obtaining full-market-value protection for rare or appreciating assets
• Rising excess fees, making claims financially impractical
• Time-consuming negotiations with brokers and insurers to secure adequate terms

Many collectors only realise these risks when it’s too late—after discovering that a bottle or case is underinsured, or worse, entirely excluded from coverage.

What to Ask:

• Does my provider offer comprehensive insurance, or must I arrange my own?
• Is my wine covered for full market value, or is there a claims cap?
• What are the excess fees on claims? Have they increased recently?
• How does my provider’s policy compare to individual insurance options?

The Octavian Difference:
At Octavian, we have partnered with a leading insurance syndicate for decades, developing a world-class insurance policy that offers:

• Up to £450 million per claim – the highest level of coverage available
• Full market-value protection for all stored wine
• No need to source your own policy—our scale spreads the risk across thousands of clients
• Industry-leading underwriting based on rigorous risk assessment
• Continuous oversight and regular inspections by expert insurers

Because we act as custodians, our ability to negotiate superior insurance coverage far exceeds what any individual collector could secure alone. This means your collection is not only stored in optimal conditions but also fully protected—with a provider strong enough to stand behind its promise.

At Octavian, we provide unparalleled protection, expertise, and financial strength for your wine collection. With all the uncertainty in the world – It’s time to Store With The Strong.