More Secrets to Playing the Wine Auction Game
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.
British wine trading sees wine auctions as a method of stimulating interest in a diverse assortment of wines. In Australia, of course, there have always been plenty of wine auctions and online wine sales have been very popular. Australia has no problem opening up their wine cellars to the public. As well, there are large online wine sales being made through communities of people sharing notes and critiques of various wines amongst themselves. One very popular online wine sales community is the Auswine Discussion Forum. In this scenario, you do not even need to leave the comfort of your home to partake in the benefits of an online wine auction where wine sales take center stage.
Bidding and Tasting Tips for Wine Auctions
Whether you decide to participate in one of the myriad online wine sales or take a jaunt through the real world of wine sales and wine cellars, you will want to take some things into consideration. Pay only what you are willing to pay. There is ample research both online and off which shows what are fair and maximum bids in an auction on a particular wine. Researching these things prior will allow you to make online wine sales and purchases fairly. Always try to attend a pre-auction tasting. Sometimes end of the line mixed cases can be an excellent choice, so always be on the look out for these sorts of things. Most trade bidders are not very interested in those so you will have a clear field.
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!
As you can see, wine auctions are about having fun and the bargains you can make, not the perceived social status achieved from attending an event. Represented for well-known, international venues, most auctions are good for everyday people. A representative from a renowned auction house recently commented on the state of wine auctions today. “I think online wine auctions are still in their infancy.” Wine sales and auctions are an excellent opportunity not to be missed.
