FAQs

Why am I selling some of my wines?

Put simply, for the foreseeable futureI wont be residing int he UK full time and it’s time for me to consolidate my collection. It’s bittersweet having to let go of all these wines, but I’m thrilled to let some of these rare and magnificent bottles find a new, loving home in your cellar. These are just a fraction of the wines I have cellared, and I can’t drink them all.

 

Provenance?

You can be completely confident in the provenance of every bottle. They have been meticulously stored in either London City Bond (LCB) or another bonded warehouse since their release. All bottles were purchased directly from the producer or their official distributor.

Why not use an auction house or brokerage?

I thought of it and enquired, but I considered a few actors that don’t benefit the consumer. Most auction houses will add a premium to the final cost, and brokerage take a commission from between 10% all the way up to 35%. This either devalues the price I get for the wines or passes it on to the buyer.

Both of these methods inflate the prices of the bottles, which I don’t think is fair. Wines are meant to be enjoyed.

The solution: I built an online store and allow my fellow community of winos to access wines and vintages they haven’t had or wouldn’t have gotten access to previously.

 

What was your pricing strategy?

I didn’t have one, but I made a few considerations. I looked at the current market price and tried to beat it. I also considered the rarity and scarcity of the wines I have. Is it currently available on the market, and when was it last on the market? Who is the producer, and is that wine still for sale? Finally, I considered the wine’s propensity to age and get better. I do know what’s in the bottle 😉 

Lastly - on the price you see. Please note for each transaction I incur approx 6-8% in transaction fees. Shipping in most instances will cost more than the price I’m charging and I can’t offset this like most merchants and retailers do.

Am I a reseller?

No and never. Offloading these wines from my purview is my only ‘commercial’ interest in the wine business.

 

Will this stop me from future allocations?

No, never. Most winemakers and importers will agree on how I’ve decided to redistribute these wines and help them find a new home.