Langtons is expanding its benchmarking of fine wine next month to include an international version of its Classification of Australian Wine.

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.”

Set to be unveiled in early-August, the Langtons Classification of International Wine will feature a collection of 160 wines from across the world’s top wine regions in France, Italy, New Zealand, United States, Spain, Portugal and Germany. The list has been developed through secondary market auction data collected over the last five years from every international bottle that has been traded through Langtons.

Langtons Head of Auctions Michael Anderson said: “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.”

The Langtons Classification of International Wine will provide insights into the secondary market trends to assist investors and collectors of fine wine. It will also act as an authoritative guide for those in search of a high-quality international wine for enjoying now.

Anderson teases that the Classification of International Wine will feature a mix of hard to find cult classics and established titans of the fine wine trade, indicating new shifts in the fine wine space.

“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,” Anderson said.

“Additionally, it’s also showing us what a huge volume of wine is coming through the auction space at the moment, which is a great indicator that the secondary market is strong.”

Anderson also hints that some may be surprised with some of the “expected” wines not making an appearance in the inaugural edition of the Classification of International Wine.

“Just because a wine might not be on this first edition of the Classification of International Wine doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future,” he said.

“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.”

While the Classification of International Wine focuses on wines from abroad, Anderson says the initiative also prompts the opportunity for local, Australian wines to shine alongside their global counterparts.

“The Langtons Classification of International Wine provides an opportunity for benchmarking our local First Classified wines included in the LANGTONS Classification of Australian Wine,” he said.

“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 renowned 1855 Bordeaux Classification, which saw wines from the region ranked in importance from first to fifth growth crus mainly based on selling history.

The Langtons Classification of International Wine will see all wines categorised as Classified. This differs from the Classification of Australian Wine which sees wines categorised as Classified, along with a small number deemed a higher First Classified status.

The full LANGTONS Classification of International Wine is set to be unveiled in August via langtons.com.au