We help our clients understand their options and the best approach to realising their goals, whether it simply be to understand the extent of their cellar and when to drink it, or to realise a sale of the asset.
Cataloguing wine can be done in different ways depending on your goals, though accuracy and detail is the key. We are meticulous in our cataloguing. In the process, we can prepare bottles for sale and will undertake research where we believe further insight or information is required.
And of course, we have all the tools to make this happen.
We can value whole or partial cellars.
It is important to appreciate, however, that valuation can be difficult and time-consuming. Valuations are estimations only and the final price of any sale is open to the variability of markets and auctions.
This said, we can help provide estimates based on market-data, research and experience for purposes of insurance, estimation and potentially a sale.
Moving a bottle, let alone a case, is a reason for extraordinary care.
And trust us. We have our own collections that we are just as protective of.
Cataloguing, cross-checking, packing and shifting wines is really something we have experience in. And we are hands on.
We personally oversee the process and we work only with transportation companies we know and trust.
Moving from the family home to a more suitable apartment or
townhouse likely means rationalising the cellar to fit.
This can be a real opportunity to optimise and identify
those wines you realistically won’t get to. More variety, less space.
To be clear. We will never try to sell you wine. Or buy your wine directly.
We are an independent intermediary and our role is to find the best and/or most appropriate path of sale. We are independent of brokers and auction houses though we may negotiate better fees on your behalf which we will always be clear on.
We are transparent through whatever process we agree to and we represent you and your interests in achieving the best returns.
Bryan is our founder and CEO and if there was anyone you could have respecting, cataloguing and handling your cellar, it's Bryan.
A lover of Australian wine and wines from around the world, Bryan oversees every assignment and ensures that it aligns with our principles, independence and goals of our client.
You are in control every step of the way
Yes. Our service is fully insured and we will only recommend transport providers who carry their own full insurances.
This is determined through whatever means your wine is sold, though directly to your bank account. Auction houses typically deposit funds within 30 days. In the event of a broker sale, not wines would be shipped until full payment had been received.
We do handle spirits though our particular expertise is in wine.
This is determined by the method of sale. If sold through auction, you can decide on a reserve on all, some or none of your wine.
The auction house will provide guidance on reserve values which will give insight into likely sale prices, notwithstanding that it is possible some wine may not sell.
We will advise you of wine unsuitable for the auction process in order to mitigate this outcome as far as possible. Auctions are of course variable things, though auction houses specialise in optimising auctions for optimal sale price. Selling through a broker or a direct buyer, this is often done to achieve the fastest sale time rather than realising the greatest value from the sale.
Typically, sales to brokers will yield lower returns than auction sales. We will advise and negotiate a broker sale on your behalf, providing you with our advice to achieve the best value from a broker or buyer sale.
We work with transport businesses that specialise in the movement of wine. Auction houses also have their own transport capabilities which may be suitable.
After we have conducted our initial assessment of your collection, we will provide an estimate of our time to catalogue the wine. The sale process depends on how the wine is being sold. Brokers can move reasonably quickly, auction houses can take weeks and even months to realise a full sale.
We are a Sydney-based business, servicing the Upper and Lower North Shore, Northern Beaches, Eastern Suburbs and Inner West. We can travel further for specialist assignments. Please contact Bryan to discuss: bryan@thewinerecord.com.au or 0438 615 252.
What guides us and instructs us...
Case Study:
March 2023: Castlecrag, Sydney
This was quite an extraordinary cellar - sadly as part of a deceased estate - where our role was to rapidly catalogue, carefully box and then advise on the sale of the cellar.
Access was not amazing, though the extent of the cellar made each day a new one we loved discovering the pattern of buying, cellaring and how we could make the catalogue really stand out.
We were asked to separate wines for the wake and the family - a very common request - and then set about grouping and cataloguing what was an an enormous cellar by really any standards.
We agreed with the seller that straight to auction was the best strategy and after a few weeks, we successfully catalogued and shipped twelve pallets ready for sale.
One of our larger cellars and one that just gave us so much joy to be part of.
The Wine Record, Sydney’s premium Wine Cellar Cataloguing service helps clients downsize, sell and realise the true value of their cellar.
