En Primeur is often referred to as wine futures—a system where wine is purchased while still maturing in barrel, well before it’s bottled and released. While several wine regions around the world offer futures, the term en primeur is most closely associated with Bordeaux.
In this blog, we focus on what en primeur means specifically in the context of Bordeaux—how it works, why it exists, and why it might be worth exploring.
En primeur, also known as wine futures, is a traditional and fascinating way to purchase fine wine before it is bottled and released to the wider market. Most commonly associated with Bordeaux, en primeur gives wine lovers the opportunity to secure limited-release wines while they are still maturing in barrel. For collectors and enthusiasts, it offers early access to some of the world’s most sought-after wines — often at the best possible price.
At Normanby Fine Wines, we’re proud to offer access to Bordeaux en primeur as part of our commitment to bringing exceptional global wine experiences to New Zealand. Whether you’re new to the concept or a seasoned buyer, our team is here to guide you through it.Each year, typically in April, producers in Bordeaux present barrel samples of the latest vintage — just months after harvest. During this period, known as En Primeur Week, journalists, wine merchants, and buyers from around the world gather in Bordeaux to taste the wines and evaluate the vintage.
These early samples are unfinished but provide a reliable snapshot of the wine’s potential character, structure, and ageability. Based on these tastings and insights from critics, châteaux release their wines to the market — not as bottles on shelves, but as a pre-sale offering, delivered later.When you buy en primeur, you are purchasing wine that won’t be bottled and shipped for another 24 months. Payment is in two parts, the first payment due in August of the year the wine is offered. The second payment when the wine arrives in 2 years time. The second payment is quoted as an estimate at the wines are offered as it includes the duty, taxes and freight based on actuals when the wine arrives.
