For The Love Of Port

Hi all,

I just wanted a bit of advice regarding pricing up a vintage port collection for sale.

I have received roughly 40 bottles over the years, 12 of which I sold at auction but I am not sure I got a good deal.

I was wondering if anyone knew what perhaps the mark up is for companies that sell bottles at high street value against someone such as myself selling privately.

My lot is as follows and have come up with a "street value" based on site's such as this http://www.vintageportshop.co.uk/, but understand that these are retailers and as such potentially add a healthy chunk on top not least because of their storage strategy. I would add that although stored by Berry brothers for many years the bottles were then stored in various locations including just in bedrooms or wardrobes and not in pro or perfect condition, some labels are not in the best possible location.

2 x Crofts 1985
4 x Gould Cambell 1994
4 x Warre's 1983
3 x Taylor's 1980
3 x Berrys own selection 1977
3 x Grahams 1977

Thanks for any advice in advance.

Will

Hi Will,

Thanks for posting here. I moved this thread into the appropriate PORT & MADEIRA MARKETPLACE part of our forum, where it belongs. I understand this was your first post, so thanks for understanding.

Pricing is variable based on many things, location, the wine itself, how stored, overall condition, it's "score" by reviewers and people who drink it, etc. In the UK, a private seller will perhaps get about 1/2 of retail value for them. As I've been told from UK Port friends. In other words, don't expect to get anything near full retail in the UK for your bottles.

That aside, you've got some bottles that are not collectable, do not have a good reputation, and generally don't sell for a lot. The Croft and Taylor's are both very poor vintages for them and not desirable by Port collectors and thus not worth much. Gould Campbell, while very nice, also does not command top pricing. The Warre's is a nice vintage but this producer and that year also aren't selling for lots of money at the moment. Same goes for the Berry's. The Graham's are your best bet for getting at least more than the others.

I hope you find a buyer for these but don't expect a windfall of money from their sale.

Shooting from hip; selling privately would yield you about 60% the lowest retail price at best IMO. You are not store, the buyers do not see you as source for well cellared port and your audience is small. Those will to roll the dice on similar sellers and ports probably looking to only pay that similar amount.

Hi Will; agreeing with the above, 50-60% would be the most you could expect if bottles are well kept in good condition (bedrooms and wardrobes tend to be poor). Good levels, no seepage, and good colour are all generally more important than label condition, except for highly unusual bottles where it can be more of a factor. Also note that the 50% retail would be compared with the "normal" fine wine dealers, not the anniversary specialists whose prices may be significantly higher at times.

You've looked at perhaps the most expensive store to buy Vintage Port from to use as your basis for selling them. Many people looking to sell wine, who don't know wine, tend to do that. The reality of it is you need to look at "normal" retail stores and, more importantly, what current auction prices are. The latter of which is a far better mark of what they are worth.

Out of curiosity I looked up what current auction prices are for these on Cellartracker.com, all prices in USD. Auction prices tend to be closer to real world pricing, though a private party selling these would generally expect to get even less than these auction averages. I've put a rough estimate in () of what you'd expect to get for from a private buyer. Again all prices are USD and in the UK prices for these are probably even less as VP's tend to sell for less in the UK than they do here in the States.


Crofts 1985 - $37.72 ($30)
Gould Cambell 1994 - $50.00 ($40)
Warre's 1983 - $46.61 ($40)
Taylor's 1980 - $65.11 ($35)
Berrys own selection 1977 - $57.50 ($45)
Grahams 1977 - $76.27 ($70)