Wine Spectator's Guide to Buying Futures

Editor's Note: The following was originally posted on Wine Spectator's Web site on March 28. It is being republished here with their permission.

Buying futures is a lot like buying commodities, with cash laid down now for later delivery of something that doesn't yet exist as a finished product.

Unlike pork bellies, however, wine futures buyers must wait a relatively long time for their purchase, typically up to two years if the futures are bought soon after they are first offered.

The motivation for getting in on futures action is twofold. ...