By Vinously Chic aka Melissa Unsell
Hours and hours of detailed preparation have gone into planning the Inaugural Fete du Cuvee Wine Auction. The event will premier on Saturday, March 3rd at the Bright Shawl. This event promises to be an oenophile and foodie paradise, as over 30 delectable wines will be poured throughout the evening and paired with dishes made from a line up of top chefs around San Antonio. The event will also feature a live and silent auction as well as entertainment. Collector’s – get your pocket books ready. You do not want to miss this event. Tickets start at $150 and the guest list will be capped at 350 guests. The event is sure to sell out, so get your tickets now.
I want to share with you, best practices for buying wine at an auction. I recently read an article from Wine Spectator regarding wine auctions. Below is my paraphrased summary of the article. Enjoy.
First off, purchasing wine at a wine auction is a plus, because of the array of fine and rare wines offered that are not typically stocked at retail locations. Also, auction prices generally fall below retail levels and occasionally even below wholesale.
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT
Before you attend an auction, determine your objectives. Are you starting a cellar collection? Do you want a lot of rare finds? Are you looking to invest in wine? If starting a new collection, what wine regions do you wish to collect?
STUDY THE CATALOG
You can best prepare for your purchases at Fete du Cuvee by purchasing a Patron Ticket or a Table of 10, which allows you access to the Preview Party, where guests will receive the auction catalog and can best prepare for the actual event on March 3rd.
KNOW WHAT IT’S WORTH
You may wish to cross-reference retail prices, previous auction prices as well as estimates. There are online resources such as The Wine Spectator Auction Index that can be used to analyze current auction estimates and results. Access to this does require a WineSpectator.com membership and covers approximately 10,000 cellar-worthy listings.
KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS IN CHECK
When bidding, it’s a good idea to set a limit for your maximum bid and stick to it. Make use of the auction catalog to appropriately decide on the maximum amount you are prepared to pay.
COME UP WITH A GAMEPLAN
Remember to bring your “wish” list to the auction and listen carefully to the auctioneer during the live auction portion, as he or she may drop hints about the interest level in an item.
All in all, have fun! The money you are using to stock your cellar is going to help our great San Antonio community. The net proceeds from the event will help support the Junior League of San Antonio and over 60 partner agencies that the JLSA supports.
Plus, it will be a great formal affair in the heart of San Antonio. Get ready to raise your glasses, and your auction paddle!
Cheers!
Click here to watch a clip featuring Fete du Cuvee on Fox News First.