When it comes to buying wine, there are a number of ways to find what you are looking for. You can:
- Shop at a local wine store where you might have established a relationship
- Buy direct from a winery whose wine you enjoy
- Search online for wine retailers in another area of the U.S.
- Bid on a bottle at your favorite charity’s gala
Recently I have been buying at auction without ever leaving my home! If you aren’t familiar with WineBid you should take a look at it. WineBid.com is an online wine auction that occurs every week. The wines in each auction vary from week to week but include something for everyone. Whether you want to spend $30 or $5,000 on a bottle of wine, it’s safe to say you can find what you are looking for among the 1000’s of bottles featured.
Each week’s auction concludes on Sunday at 10 PM (EST). Throughout the week you can peruse the various lots in the auction and bid. If someone outbids you at any time, you will be notified and have the opportunity to raise your bid.
Wines are sorted on the site by type (e.g red or white), region (e.g. France), varietal (e.g Cabernet Sauvignon), vintage (e.g. 2011), bottle size (e.g. 750 ml, magnum) and professional ratings the wine has received (e.g. 90 points from Wine Spectator). If you find a particular bottle of wine you are interested in you can review:
- A picture of the actual bottle(s) you are bidding on
- A overview of the winery that produced the wine
- What the wine has sold for in recent WineBid auctions
- The condition of the wine bottle you are bidding on (e.g. label on bottle partially torn)
- The region in which the wine was produced (U.S., California, Napa Valley)
- Wine type (e.g. Chardonnay)
Any wine you purchase is maintained in a “virtual wine cellar” which allows you to inventory your purchases. As you drink the wine, you can update your inventory to reflect the wine is no longer in you cellar! Wines are shipped at the conclusion of each week’s auction and received in two days.
In addition to buying wine, you can sell wine as well. After providing pertinent information (wine name, vintage, etc.) on the wine you want to sell, you are provided a sell price estimate by WineBid at no charge.
I recently bought a mixed case of wine over the course of two auctions. The case included Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California Chardonnay and French Bordeaux. The wine arrived in perfect condition and was as advertised. Whether you are looking for a French Bordeaux from the year your child was born or a particular vintage to complete a vertical you have underway, WineBid may be the answer!
Orbiting- (Orb – Nicky’s Way)