The Tradition of Ty Caton Wine Futures
Each year at Ty Caton, our customers enjoy an opportunity to purchase wine futures at our Annual Barrel Tasting Event, held every October. Offering wine futures, traditionally known as en primeur, is the purchasing of wines that are still in barrels before they’re bottled and released. This year our annual Barrel Tasting event will be held on Saturday, October 3rd at the Urban Sonoma winery where we will continue our tradition of offering futures to our customers.
What Makes Wine Futures Special
As a consumer, purchasing futures can be highly exciting – even more exciting if you do so from reputable and consistent producers like Ty Caton. There are a few benefits to purchasing futures:
- Consumers get first access to wines of limited quantities, especially in favorable vintages.
- Consumers can purchase wines at the best price, increasing their value.
- It’s an opportunity to invest in your favorite wineries, helping to fund harvests and operational costs.
- Buying wines en primeur ensures your wines arrive in the best possible condition! They’ve been stored in cool cellars and shipped directly to you, reducing exposure to the elements and improper storage.
During our Futures Sale, we’ll be offering case purchases discounts of our 2025 vintage red wines and our 2026 Rosé (you can mix and match!). To learn more about the 2025 vintage and the wines we are crafting, as well as news about the event, make sure you’re subscribed to our mailing list.
The History of En Primeur
The tradition of buying futures dates back to at least 58 A.D., where every grape from the vineyard was purchased while still on the vine. This practice gained traction in the 18th century. When trade relations resumed between Britain and France after one of their many wars, the British came up with the idea of buying French wine en primeur to finance wine production in France. French wine producers received advance payment to fund their harvests and cover operational costs and the British ensured they’d have French wine to drink.
This tradition continued for centuries in Bordeaux – even Thomas Jefferson participated in it! In the spring following harvest, wines were tasted out of the barrel and given a preliminary score that influences the en primeur price. The wines were first offered to courtiers, or brokers, who took a small percentage, and then to négociants, or shippers, who then set a new price for the wines. Today, the practice of purchasing futures has become popular in the Napa Valley, the Rhône Valley, Burgundy, and Italy. In Napa, wineries offer futures direct-to-consumer instead of going through courtiers and négociants.
Sustainable Sipping: Eco-Friendly Practices in Winemaking
happening inside our Kenwood tasting room at Ty Caton Vineyards. Nestled amidst the serene beauty of Moon Mountain District, our tasting room beckons visitors to step in from the cold and experience Ty Caton warmth and hospitality.
Savor Hearty Red Wines
