Cellar valuation
What is your cellar actually worth?
A written valuation at Liv-Ex mid-prices, within 48 hours of receiving your inventory. No obligation to proceed, and no listing fee. Just a clear, current view of what you hold.
- Written within 48 hours
- Liv-Ex mid-prices
- No listing fee
Request a valuation
Tell us roughly what you hold and we will come back within 48 hours.
Two routes
Reinvest, or exit. The rate differs, and we say why.
Realise and reinvest with us
2%
Commission on confirmed proceeds where the value is reinvested 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 all warehouse movements.
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.
The alternative
How this compares with an auction house.
Auction is a legitimate route and sometimes the right one. The mechanics differ in ways worth understanding before you commit.
| Auction house | Cellar Advisor | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to you | A seller's commission, plus a buyer's premium that reduces what bidders will offer for the lot. | A single commission on confirmed proceeds. No buyer-side premium suppressing the bid. |
| Timing | Consignment is scheduled into a future sale date, which may be months away. | 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 list on the Liv-Ex market and execute against live bids from the trade. |
We have not quoted auction house percentages here because they vary by house, lot value and negotiation. Ask any auction house for their 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 simply changes hands where it stands. No duty, no VAT, no risk in transit, and 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.
Valuation
What makes a cellar worth more.
Two identical cases can be worth materially different sums. These are the factors that move the number, and what an experienced eye looks for.
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. Wine that has spent time in a domestic cellar or garage attracts scrutiny and a discount.
Original wooden cases
Unopened original wooden cases, ideally with the lid intact and the branding legible, are worth more than loose bottles or repacked cartons.
Condition
Fill levels, label condition, capsule integrity and the absence of seepage. Photographs are usually enough for an initial view.
Duty status
Wine in bond is worth more to the trade than duty-paid wine, because the buyer inherits the option on duty and VAT. Duty-paid stock has a narrower buyer pool.
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
Common questions.
- Does a valuation commit me to anything?
- No. The valuation is free, there is no listing fee, and there is no obligation to proceed. Some clients simply want a current view of what they hold for insurance or estate planning, and that is a perfectly good reason to ask.
- How quickly will I have a figure?
- A written valuation within 48 hours of receiving your inventory. If you only have a rough idea of what you hold, that is enough to start, and we will tell you what else we need.
- What do you need from me?
- Producer, vintage, case size and quantity is ideal. A photograph of the cases or a warehouse stock list is usually enough. If your wine is in bond, the warehouse can supply a list directly.
- How are the numbers arrived at?
- We value at Liv-Ex mid-prices, the same reference the trade uses, adjusted for condition, provenance and duty status. You receive the reasoning, not just a total.
- Do I have to move the wine?
- Usually not. Wine already in bond transfers in bond, with no duty or VAT triggered and no risk in transit. Wine in a private cellar is collected by a specialist carrier, temperature controlled and insured.
- When would I receive the proceeds?
- We list on the Liv-Ex market and execute against live bids. Net proceeds are transferred within five to ten business days of settlement, with a full settlement statement. Commission is deducted from proceeds rather than invoiced separately.
Worth reading first.
Three things, none of which ask anything of you.