Cellar valuation
Free cellar valuation. Then it is your call.
A written valuation of your collection at Liv-ex mid-prices within 48 hours of receiving your list. No listing fee, no obligation, and nothing has to move. Realise the value through our Liv-ex brokerage, reinvest it, or simply keep the number for insurance.
- Written within 48 hours
- Liv-ex mid-prices
- Commission on confirmed proceeds only
Rather talk it through? +44 (0)20 3576 5592, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.
Request a valuation
Tell us roughly what you hold. An exact list is not needed yet.
- Liv-ex member brokerage
- Knightsbridge, London
- Wine held in your own name at LCB Eton Park
- Written valuation within 48 hours
- Commission on confirmed proceeds only
What you get
A number you can act on, with the reasoning.
We value at Liv-ex mid-prices, the reference the trade uses, adjusted for condition, provenance and duty status. You receive a written statement showing each line, the basis for it, and a total. You also receive a plain note of what would improve the figure, for example original wooden cases or a warehouse condition report.
What we need from you
Producer, vintage, case size and quantity. A photograph of the cases or a warehouse stock list is usually enough. If your wine is in bond, the warehouse can send us the list directly.
Three things you can do with the valuation
Realise, reinvest, or keep the number.
01
Realise the value
We list on the Liv-ex market and execute against live bids from the trade. Net proceeds reach you within five to ten business days of settlement, with a full settlement statement.
02
Reinvest with us
The value moves into a portfolio held in your own name at LCB Eton Park, managed by a named portfolio manager. Our commission on this route is lower, and we say why below.
03
Keep the number
Some clients want a current figure for insurance, a divorce settlement, estate planning or simple peace of mind. That is a perfectly good reason to ask, and there is no follow-up sales call unless you want one.
How we charge
Two routes. Two rates. Both stated up front.
Realise and reinvest with us
2%
Commission on confirmed proceeds where the value goes into a portfolio we manage for you.
Realise and exit
7%
Commission on confirmed proceeds where you take the money out. This covers valuation, pricing strategy, buyer outreach, negotiation, settlement and every warehouse movement.
Nothing before proceeds are confirmed. No listing fee, no valuation fee, no withdrawal fee, no charge if you decide not to proceed.
The difference exists because we would rather keep working with you than take a one-off transaction fee. We would rather tell you that plainly than bury it in a schedule.
Compared with an auction house
How this compares with consigning to auction.
Auction is a legitimate route and sometimes the right one. The mechanics differ.
| Auction house | Cellar Advisor | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | An auction house charges a seller's commission and adds a buyer's premium, which reduces what bidders will offer for the lot. | We charge a single commission on confirmed proceeds and there is no buyer-side premium suppressing the bid. |
| Timing | Consignment is scheduled into a future sale date, which may be months away. | We give a written valuation within 48 hours and net proceeds within five to ten business days of settlement. |
| Certainty | A lot may fail to meet its reserve and go unsold, returning you to the start. | We execute against live trade bids on Liv-ex. |
We do not quote auction house percentages because they vary by house, lot value and negotiation. Ask any house for its seller commission and buyer premium in writing before you consign.
Logistics
Nothing has to move.
If your wine is already in bond
It transfers in bond, warehouse to warehouse, or changes hands where it stands. No duty, no VAT, no risk in transit, no re-inspection. In many cases the physical cases never move at all.
If your wine is in a private cellar
We arrange collection by a specialist fine wine carrier, temperature controlled and insured in transit, into bond at LCB Eton Park. Condition is assessed on arrival and reflected in the valuation. Duty and VAT status is explained before anything is collected.
What makes a cellar worth more
Two identical cases can be worth different sums.
Provenance
An unbroken, documented chain of custody. Wine bought on release and held in bond throughout commands a premium over wine with gaps in its history.
Storage history
Continuous professional storage under bond at a stable temperature. Time in a domestic cellar or garage attracts scrutiny.
Original wooden cases
Unopened, lid intact, branding legible, worth more than loose bottles or repacked cartons.
Condition
Fill levels, label and capsule condition. A condition report from the warehouse settles most questions before a buyer asks them.
Format and completeness
Full cases of twelve or six, and complete verticals or assortments, are easier to place than odd bottles.
How it works
Four steps, one named person.
01
Send a rough list
A rough list, a photo or a warehouse stock list is enough to start.
02
Written valuation within 48 hours
At Liv-ex mid-prices, with the reasoning.
03
A conversation, if you want one
About the three routes. No script.
04
If you proceed
We list, execute, settle and send a full statement. Commission is deducted from proceeds.
Common questions.
- Does a valuation commit me to anything?
- No. It is free, there is no listing fee and no obligation.
- How quickly will I have a figure?
- Within 48 hours of receiving your inventory.
- Do I have to move the wine?
- Usually not. In bond stays in bond. Private cellar wine is collected by a specialist carrier if you decide to proceed.
- When would I receive proceeds?
- Within five to ten business days of settlement, with a statement.
- What about duty and VAT?
- Wine in bond has duty and VAT suspended. A transfer in bond does not trigger them. We explain the position for your wine before anything moves.
- What about tax on any gain?
- HMRC generally treats wine as a wasting asset, so a gain may generally fall outside capital gains tax, with exceptions for some fortified and very long-lived wines. This is not tax advice; see our plain-English note on wine and capital gains tax and speak to your own adviser.Read the note on wine and capital gains tax
Find out what your cellar is worth.
Request a valuationor call +44 (0)20 3576 5592, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.
Risk warning
Capital at risk. The value of fine wine can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. Fine wine is a physical asset and investment in it is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You will not have access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme or the Financial Ombudsman Service. Fine wine is illiquid and may take time to sell. Cellar Advisor does not provide financial, investment or tax advice. Please seek independent advice before making any investment decision.
Rather talk it through?
Speak to us directly about what you hold. No obligation, no sales script.
+44 (0)20 3576 5592Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Request a valuation
Tell us roughly what you hold. An exact list is not needed yet.