Gardening Basics

More Wine Auction Games - Secrets to Success

Posted by KC Kudra

The United States only has commercial wine auctions in Illinois and California with New York attempting to get bills passed so that they can join the wine auction arena. As of yet, however, New York has seen little success. As a result, people come from all over, converging on Chicago to get in on the best bargains. In Britain, wine auctions are also quite popular and are held throughout the country during the fall and winter months. There are also retail wine chains that have flourished. In addition, one change has even expanded and bought up a wine retailer on the American West Coast.

Wine auctions are considered by the British wine trade as being a way of sparking interest in wines and looks to it to increase sales for everyone. In Australia, wine auctions are plentiful especially online wine sales and auctions. There are a number of online wine communities devoted to sharing tasting notes and critiques about various wines they have encountered. Biggest amongst those communities is Auswine Discussion Forum, where you can search critiques and get advice on various wines from the comfort of your own living room. From your armchair, you can enjoy the benefits of buying fine wines at an online wine sale or auction.

Bidding and Tasting Tips when Attending a Wine Auction

Before you set out in the real world or online, plan out the items you want to bid on and the amount you are willing to pay. Research previous wine auctions to get a good idea of prices so your maximum bids will be fair and stand you in stead to win. Always try and attend the pre-auction tasting, sometimes end of line mixed cases can be a superb buy, keep an eye open for that. The trade bidders are not so interested in those.

Another idea that is very good includes attending a wine warehouse tasting to see what brands are out there. Then you will gain a better appreciation for what you are bidding for instead of simply taking a wine at label value. You can also form a collective of your colleagues and friends to buy in groups further reducing your per bottle costs and increase the variety you can purchase.

My preference is to do the online auctions on a paper basis first to get acquainted with the procedure. Just write down your bid for your preferred lots, write down the final selling price, and judge your own effort. Do not bid until you are confident. If you are going to a tasting, please ensure you get someone else to do the driving!

So you can see wine auctions are not about perceived social standing, they are the places to go to get bargains! A representative for a well-known international auction house recently said “I think online wine auctions are still in their infancy.” A good opportunity not to be missed, make sure you research well and just do it!

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