Ananasfreak

You might not have given it a lot of thought, but wine auctions are now big business, both offline as you probably know but also online and they are becoming more and more popular; whether for private companies, getting rid of end of ranges, wine estates ends of production, charities and of course Joe public wanting a bargain! Auctioneers forecast a continued but subdued market for wine auctions this year. Wine auctions are the perfect way to find those hard-to-find wine gems, if you know what you are looking for or just to pick up a bargain.

Because of the publicity given to the oldest and most expensive bottles of wine sold at auction, most consumers tend to think wine auctions are for the connoisseurs and the very rich, well let me tell you they are most definitely NOT! Some of the best publicized wine auctions are for charity, where you can make a gift to the charity and receive a delectable bottle of wine in return. Live wine auctions are exactly as you have seen them in the movies, great fun! Apart from the high profile sales Like that of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spectacular sale, most wine auctions are a cosy affair; 70% of winning bids come from the trade, so there is 30% up for grabs at bargain prices for the likes of you and I.

With well-heeled benefactors willing to bid thousands for a single bottle of a prized wine, wine auctions become an excellent source of donations for local charities. The beauty of online wine auctions however is the availability of the “hammer” prices after the auction is over and you can browse and search the databases to find the selling prices of all the wines sold. this will give you a great background if you go to a live wine auction either online or off.

The excitement of a wine auction could affect impulse buying, and a punter paying a higher price than normal even. So research is key to getting a bargain , don’t get carried away! Auctions also bring to the market fine old wines that might ordinarily go bad in a cellar, simply because there is no convenient way to dispose of them, wine auctions have become the preferred place to sell these wines, when you can often get a bargain. Auctions are typically set up around lunches for obvious reasons and most of the heavy bidding is done during the middle of the day. What a way to enjoy your purchase!

In the USA, surprisingly only Illinois and naturally California are the states that allow commercial wine auctions. In New York (the ideal place!) Bills to permit wine auctions are introduced regularly but they die just as often! In Chicago, people travel from all over just to get some bargains. In Britain where wine auctions are held anywhere throughout the country in the fall and winter, retail wine chains have flourished and one chain in particular has even taken over a wine retailer on the American West Coast! The British wine Trade sees the wine auctions as a way of stimulating interest in wines generally and increases sales for everybody. Of course in Australia you will find plenty of wine auctions, especially online. There are large online wine communities who share tasting notes and critiques amongst themselves, such as the Auswine discussion forum. You don’t even need to leave the comfort of your armchair to enjoy the benefits of an online wine auction.

Wine Auction Bidding and Tasting tips

Before you set out in the real world or online, plan out the items you want to bid on and the amount you are willing to pay. Research previous wine auctions to get a good idea of prices so your maximum bids will be fair and stand you in stead to win. Always try and attend the pre-auction tasting, sometimes end of line mixed cases can be a superb buy, keep an eye open for that. The trade bidders are not so interested in those.

Another good idea is to attend a wine warehouse tasting to get used to the brands available, then you will understand what you are bidding for. You can form a consortium with friends and or colleagues, so the costs are reduced and you can afford to bid for more variety. My preference is to do the online auctions on a paper basis fist to get acquainted with the procedure. Just write down your bid for your preferred lots and write down the final selling price and judge your own effort. Don’t bid until you are confident.If you are going to a tasting please ensure you get someone else to do the driving!

So you can see wine auctions aren’t about perceived social standing, they are the places to go to get bargains! A representative for a well known international auction house recently said “I think online wine auctions are still in their infancy”. A good opportunity not to be missed, make sure you research well and just do it!

Wine tasting is not a sport and not a hobby… It is an experience. Many choose a wine tasting tour as a modern way to spend holidays, as wine tasting tours usually include going to the country side, where one can enjoy ambience, relaxation and good company. This tends to be a physically and mentally rejuvenating experience. Depending on the continent and country, wine tasting tours are sometimes located on the most beautiful beaches, then other times inland and in hills, where grapes are growing all year round.

One might think that full appreciation of a wine tasting tour will benefit only true wine lovers, but after a third glass we can most certainly conclude, that everybody will blend in and feel great. It is best to start with local wine tours and then build up to wine tasting vacations in more distant territories.

For wine tasting beginners or if going abroad, it is best to take a guided tour to places where wineries are located. These tours usually include renowned and well-known wineries and guided wine tasting sessions hosted by professional wine experts. These sessions can be an exceptional eye opener for the novice, but also for the experienced wine enthusiast. One gets to taste a wide variety of wines at the places where they are manufactured. Also much can be learned about wine making, storage, food matching and also about history of the wine and wine lovers from local history - especially in Europe where this frequently includes kings and aristocracy.

The best thing is that there is also food served besides wine, and this completes an enjoyable event. Wine tasting tours can go on for hours, and if you attend organized tours - which is an exceptional way to spend your vacation - you get to travel around from winery to winery and learn about new places that often astound you with their beauty.. You also meet new, like-minded people so you can share your findings, thoughts, preferences and tastes. Guided tours include everything already organized - your meals, the wine that go with the meals, your hotel rooms, transportation and lastly the wineries to visit for the tasting sessions.

To attend a wine tasting session you do not need any knowledge as there are no prerequisites. Everybody can attend as sessions are guided, and one learns everything on the way. If you are a complete beginner, it is best to look around and copy behavior of others. This especially includes sipping the wine slowly, keeping it in the mouth for a few seconds, while moving it around all areas of your mouth and tongue, so that every taste sensor comes in touch with it. You can also close your eyes and most of all try to get as much feedback from your sensors as possible - and then compare your findings to what your guide is describing.

Wine tours are not only about wine tasting. Ultimately at the end of every tour you can buy wine that you liked, and for many this is a start of their own private wine collection. Attending such wine tasting session also teaches you a lot about the way the grapes are cultivated and collected, about local folklore, and finally how grapes get processed for the wine. The bottom line - while enjoying these tours you will have the best time ever. After a few local tours you really might consider a wine tour as a way to spend your holidays and after you have returned from your first wine tasting tour, you will probably make a list of all the continents and countries you want to visit to continue your quest for good taste.