I purchased a 600 bottle cellar recently with more wine than will fit in my cellar. My initial thought was a significant amount would go to an auction house.
I have experience with WineBid, but they are no longer in Chicago.
Looking at The Chicago Wine Company, it looks like they have decent sell prices, but I have no experience with them.
I also have about 50 bottles of Scotch and I see that Unicorn Auctions handles spirits. Any experience with them?
Thanks for any help.
HDH is also local to you.
just send your list to a few spots for appraisal and go from there.
Flickinger is the best and you can drop off the wine at the south loop location. Excellent service!
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Thanks, forgot about that one.
I have had good experience with Unicorn Auctions for liquor and their fees are some of the best I have seen. They have also just started to get into wine as well
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I have no experience selling through CWC. Anybody else ? do they do sufficient volume ? Do they get a good price ?
Commerce Corner here on WineBerserkers could be another option.
Thank you for all the suggestions.
In Chicago, your best bet is Chicago Wine Company for auctioning. They’re great folks. Talk to Simon Lambert there.
Flickinger is good if you want to consign the bottles, as the don’t do auctions.
Hart Davis Hart is pulling out of Chicago last I heard. Their auction business is run out of Delaware, not Chicago.
thanks! I saw HDH listed, but it didn’t look like they still had an office in Chicago.
I looked at Flickinger, and it looked like it was just consignment, which might work if they have a lot of traffic through their store.
Thanks for the contact at CWC.
They are leaving Chicago for good ? That sucks.
They definitely moved the auction business out. They told me that a while back when I was asking about shipping costs. I was hoping they were working like WineBid used to, where they would just transfer the bottles from one warehouse to the other at no cost. HDH told me the auction business is completely separate from the retail side and they ship out of Delaware, even to Chicago where they have a warehouse.
As to the retail side, I was told by someone that should know that they’re closing up that warehouse they have on the south side. Since that part is second hand, it would need to be confirmed if it is something you need surety on.
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I was aware of the auction house. Still a big advantage for me of selling through them is their proximity. Plus I enjoyed their events.
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While the auctions are now held in New Castle DE, the auction team members haven’t moved. Ben Ferdinand is still in the Chicago area, and would be a good contact for inquiry.
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I have heard good things about Unicorn for spirits from a friend in the biz who would know
Thanks! I sent them the list and photos. Just waiting to see what they appraise them at.
chris - did you pick up in person or ship? i dont live in chicago and am thinking about bidding on something via Unicon. thx