Frequently asked questions and their answers

Generally, all reputable, high-quality, or rare red and white wines, champagne, port wines, Madeira, sherry, aged high-quality spirits, cognac, whisky, rum can be submitted. The bottles must be sealed, intact, and clearly identifiable due to the label and/or capsule.

Bottles that have been resealed afterwards are only accepted after consultation – since we must guarantee our catalogue descriptions, the old seal may need to be removed and replaced by us if necessary. Bottles with significant evaporation or visually questionable content will not be put up for auction (except for antique collector bottles!)

Please send us a list of your wines, preferably in the form of an Excel File via email ( office@munichwinecompany.com ) . Be sure to include the producer, wine name, vineyard, vintage, bottle size, and the number of bottles. Please always provide your phone number in case we have questions.

If the label is damaged, please indicate this. You can assess the fill level using the Fill Level Scale . We will then provide you with a non-binding and free estimate of your list.

Based on the results of past wine auctions at our house and other global auction platforms, as well as the determination of the current market value, the so-called price range is established, referred to in the catalogue as the minimum price and the average trading price.

Lot Fee:
The lot fee is €5 per lot.

Commissions:
12,5-25% of the auction proceeds. The commission rate depends on the quality and condition of the bottles.

Insurance:
€6.80 insurance per €1,000 lot minimum value.

VAT:
19% on the Lot Fee, Commission and Insurance.

Examples:
12,5% = Bordeaux 1–5 Cru, renowned wines of the world, in clean condition. 20% = German Auslesen, good vintage, good producer, bottles are dirty and need to be cleaned before we can photograph them for the internet. €6.80 insurance per €1,000 lot minimum value. All three items are subject to 19% VAT.

IMPORTANT:
The one-time lot fee and commission are only charged upon the sale of the respective items and are deducted from the proceeds after the auction; there are no upfront costs (except for picup and insurance)!

According to German auction law, the goods to be auctioned must physically be on our premises.

• If you are located nearby, you are welcome to deliver smaller quantities to us by prior telephone arrangement.
• You can also send smaller quantities to us at your own expense, after prior notification – if you don’t have suitable packaging, we’ll be happy to assist you. Unannounced shipments will be refused and returned to the sender at their own expense.
• For larger quantities and consignments, transportation can be arranged via a freight company – please contact us in this case at +49 (0)89 / 678 055 50.
• If you cannot prepare the heavy boxes alone, do not have suitable containers, or need expert assistance, we can come to your home and collect the wines. This service is available for a reasonable consignment value and quantity, with our costs calculated based on actual expenses (fuel, meals, or accommodation).

This transport (with a capacity of 400 to 700 bottles) is carried out in our in climate-controlled vehicles.

From the moment the wines are delivered to our premises or collected by us from you, they are insured against theft, accidents, or other damage. Once shipped, this liability is transferred to the respective transport company (UPS, freight forwarder, etc.).

For Fine Wine Auctions, the consigner payout takes place approximately four to six weeks after the auction. For Online Wine Auctions, due to legal regulations, it takes around six weeks. The amount will be transferred to the account you provided. All accounts are settled within eight weeks at the latest. Should any bidder default on their bills, the wines will be re-consigned to the next possible auction.

The so-called remainders automatically enter the subsequent online or Fine Wine Auctions. Since the lot fee and commission only apply upon the successful auction of the lot, you will incur no additional costs.

We place great importance on environmental awareness. Customers who pick up their wines in person receive them in used cardboard boxes which we provide free of charge. Our new cardboard cartons which we use for shipment are linked to the recycling system through Landbell .