Wine Auctions

Written by Lee Wyatt (last updated May 4, 2020)

For all serious, curious, or budding wine aficionados a wine auction can be the best place to gather great wines either by the bottle or in bulk. But, just because this may be the best place to get wine doesn't mean that you can simply walk in, find what you want, and walk out. There is some basic information that you should be aware of before attempting an auction excursion.

  • What to expect. There are typically three kinds of auctions that a person can attend, each with its own unique behaviors. In the country auction you can expect to have a rambunctious and slightly rowdy time where the bids are entered vocally and in a rapid fire manner. You have to pay attention or you will quickly become lost. In the auction house things happen at a slightly more sedate pace. Also known as silent auctions, the only person who is allowed to speak during the proceedings is the auctioneer and bids are placed by raising your hand or a numbered placard. The final auction style is the sealed bid auction, where you do exactly what it sounds like. You make your bid in a sealed envelope and have no idea what your competitors are bidding, in the hopes that you will have the winning bid.
  • House rules. Prior to attending an auction you need to make sure you understand the house rules and that you will be able to abide by them. Some of these rules include purchasing rules, how much of the purchase price you need to have available, the commission given to the house, and any costs for attending the auction at all.
  • Quality wine. When looking over the wine that you will be bidding on, you need to know the basics of determining quality wine. The wine should have been stored in a temperature controlled manner; if it has not then take a look at the color of the wine and the cork itself. If the cork is loose, or smells musty then that is a sign of bad wine. For white wines, look for a yellowish-green color as a sign of discoloration and that the wine may no longer be any good. Red wines are supposed to be exactly that—red. If they have a purplish-brown tinge then it is no good.
  • Vintage wine. At wine auctions you will hear a lot about vintage wine. Simply put, vintage wine is a higher quality wine that is able to be stored for longer periods of time. Most wines are designed to be consumed within a relatively short period after manufacturing, typically within a week or so after purchase. While it is possible to drink vintage wines immediately after purchase, they are formulated to be able sit for years at a time and improve in taste over that time period.

Author Bio

Lee Wyatt

Contributor of numerous Tips.Net articles, Lee Wyatt is quickly becoming a regular "Jack of all trades." He is currently an independent contractor specializing in writing and editing. Contact him today for all of your writing and editing needs! Click here to contact. ...

MORE FROM LEE

Bay Window Treatments

For many home owners, bay windows are an item that can help make or break their decision to purchase a home. The question ...

Discover More

Spot Cleaning Leather Sofas

Leather sofas, chairs, and other furniture have become increasingly popular over the years. In fact, you can't really go ...

Discover More

Simple Sandbox Plans

If you are really thinking of adding a play area to your landscape, then you cannot forget a perennial favorite of all ...

Discover More
More Cooking Tips

How to Pair Wine with Meals

Have you ever gone to a particularly fine meal, and found your self blown away by the combination of the wine and the ...

Discover More

Storing Wine

Like many things in the culinary world, the way that you store your wine can greatly affect its overall taste. If you ...

Discover More

Picking the Right Wine

Wine is quite a different world and sometimes it's hard to know what you should do regarding wine and your meals. Here is ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is seven more than 6?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)