Wine Valuations & Vintage Wine Appraisals

Finding out the value of your wine is easy with Value My Stuff. Simply upload a photograph of the bottle, showing the label clearly, and our online specialist will send you a bespoke wine appraisal within 48 hours. With a vast knowledge of high-value wines, including both reds and whites, as well as Port, Champagne and even some brandies, you will be sure to get an honest opinion that will be useful if you're considering buying or selling a bottle. Even if you think you know how much your wine is worth, it may be useful to get a more current opinion, as the value of your wine may have grown since it was purchased. Also our expert will determine the value based on the state of the bottle's label, the level of wine in the neck of the bottle and other considerations ill be taken into account. Values of rare wines are extremely high these days and as an example, a recent Sotheby's auction saw a collection of Bordeaux and Burgundy from a private cellar sell in New York for $6.1 million.

Our Wine Expert

Our Wine Expert has collected and consumed wine for over 40 years. After running the Wine Department in 1974 for Phillips Auctioneers, holding sales in London, Edinburgh and Geneva, he joined Sotheby's where he contributed to Wine sales and assessed numerous prestigious wine cellars throughout Europe, coming across some of the finest wines ever produced. Passionate and dedicated in his field, he is still a consultant for Sotheby's nowadays and enjoys a good glass of Claret!

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The Market for Vintage Wines

Not only is the market for fine, high-value wine very strong, it is growing substantially. There is an increasing demand for rare bottles around the world, especially in Asia. In April 2008, Reuters reported that a billionaire from Beijing had spent a record-breaking $500,000 to buy 27 bottles of red wine - averaging more than $18,500 per bottle. In 2009, auction house Christie's reported the fourth highest annual total for wine sales on record - £32.13 million. The value of wine is expected to continue to rise, despite what else may happen to the economy. So, by investing in high-value wines, you can expect to yield good returns within a fairly short time.

Auction house Christie’s organises a sale each year at the Hospices de Beaune in Burgundy. The oldest and most famous charity wine auction takes place in the 15th century hospital and has growing success each year. It offers 44 'Cuvees' each year. ‘Vins primeurs’ can be acquired. Buyers can also have their bottles customised with their name, or that of their business or organisation being printed on the labels. Furthermore, the main European auction houses have recently moved into the Chinese market and regularly hold Wine sales in Hong Kong, where some lots achieve amazing prices. Stephen Williams, director of the London-based Antique Wine Company, said the client had not bought the bottles as an investment but intended to drink them. This sale has marked a significant change in Chinese buying habits, broadening their fine wine education from the wines from great chateaux of Bordeaux to the wines of Burgundy. In November 2009, Christie’s sold a mix of 78 bottles of Romanee-Conti vintage 1999 for HK$1,440,000 in Hong Kong (around £120,000+). Bordeaux continues to experience high demand from Asia. A bottle of Chateau Petrus 1982 sold for UK$726,000 at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in October 2009 (around £62,000).

Determining the Value of your Fine Wine

There are a number of factors that may affect the value of wine and it is important to keep these in mind, both when you're thinking of buying or selling a bottle, but also when you're storing a high-value wine. The condition of the bottle is extremely important when determining the value of wine. This includes the condition of the cork and the clarity and colour of the wine. The bottle fill level is vital in the valuation process, as it can be a good indicator of the condition of the liquid. Other factors such as, of course, the vineyard and the vintage are also of crucial importance and many fine wines are made in small batches to increase their rarity and value. Because wine counterfeiting is very common, authentication is important, and we will point out to you if we think you should have your wine authenticated.

A high-value wine is one that has been stored carefully and the storage conditions may affect an appraisal. Be sure that the bottle is stored in the dark and on its side, label-side up. Humidity and temperature in the storage area should be maintained at suitable levels and the wine should be moved as little as possible - be wary of vibrations from household appliances or heavy traffic.

Get your Wine, old Whisky and Antique Bottles valued Today

The wine valuation that we provide can help you decide if you want to buy or sell a high-value wine and we will include a printable certificate, as well as a web-friendly version that can use on internet selling platforms. The appraisal of the wine can also be used for insurance purposes (subject to your insurer accepting such certificates). To find out the value of your wine, simply upload a photograph of the bottle and let us know any other details about it. Our expert will consider all the relevant criteria and send you a valuation within 48 hours.