Whether you are interested in selling just a few bottles from your personal collection or you need to liquidate a large wine portfolio, Vintrust can connect you with serious buyers. Our Consignment Service is a unique and unequivocal system that connects buyers and sellers. When Vintrust sells your wine on your behalf, you know that you have a knowledgeable, reputable company working for you to gain the best market value for your wine.

To ensure the quality and integrity of wine consigned to Vintrust, typically only Tier 1- and Tier 2-rated wines are eligible for consignment.

A Tier 1 wine is highly collectible. It is an elite, investment-quality wine that has a proven track record of appreciation. First Growth Bordeaux from vintages such as 1945, 1947, 1953, 1961, 1982, 1986, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2005 are regarded as Tier 1 wines. Others, “icon” producers such as Chateaux Petrus, Ausone and Cheval Blanc, Domaines Dujac, Leroy and de la Romanée Conti, Gaja, Harlan, Screaming Eagle and Bryant Family, from great vintages, are also considered Tier 1 wines.

The Tier 2 wine category is much broader. A Tier 2 wine is a high quality wine that is well-made and highly sought after for its integrity and age-worthiness. While a Tier 2 wine is collectible, and certainly adds to the integrity of a collection, it does not have the proven track record for appreciating that a Tier 1 wine does. Many Classified Growth Bordeaux, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, Sonoma Pinot Noirs and Piedmont wines are regarded as Tier 2 wines.

Tier 3 wines are wines whose demand and salability in the retail market is negligible. These wines are often available for sale at lesser prices than when originally released. With few exceptions, Vintrust does not offer accept Tier 3 wines on consignment.

Tier 4 wines are wines that are past their prime, Vintrust does not accept Tier 4 wines on consignment.

Vintrust offers a unique way to sell your wine. In contrast to more traditional models, Vintrust offers a seamless, easy-to-use format that will maximize your profitability while eliminating the hassle and time required to prepare your wines for resale at auction.

The first step is to contact Vintrust. A member of our acquisitions team will discuss the wine you want to consign to determine its Tier.

After providing our acquisitions team with a list of wines that you are preparing to sell, our team prepares an analysis of your collection based on the Tier system. Price estimates are established using current global market value resources of credible sources only.

If you agree with the initial, estimated market value that Vintrust places on your wine, then a member of the Vintrust team will evaluate each bottle at your location to assess its current storage condition and bottle condition. Provenance and proper storage conditions are of the upmost importance when dealing with fine and rare wines. A careful analysis of each bottle or unopened case is essential for establishing the general condition of the collection, as well as determining each bottle’s reserve price.

Every member of our Vintrust acquisitions team has extensive experience evaluating wine. Each bottle’s fill level, cork, capsule and label is carefully analyzed utilizing our Range of Acceptable Standards.

The quality of the bottles has a direct effect on its salability and market value, and the reserve price that is placed on each bottle is determined in part by its condition.

Provided your wine falls within the particular Range of Acceptable Standards based on its age, variety and origin, it will be accepted on consignment.

The reserve price for each consigned lot is established through an analysis of the current retail wine market as documented on such search engines as winezap.com and winesearcher.com. Due to the sheer depth of pricing online, markers of fair pricing must be established. We pay particular attention to the long-established retailers based in major markets. We seek to capture the highest dollar for every bottle, while ensuring that the pricing remains in line with the current market value.

Once you and our acquisitions specialist set the reserve price for consignment, you then ship your wine to one of Vintrust’s secure warehouses. We will tap our vast network of wine buyers and retailers to let them know your wine is on the market. Wines are featured for 60 days. Wine not sold within 60 days is returned to you (consignor to pay shipping fees).