FAQ

CREATE AN ACCOUNT

Are you new to iDealwine? Welcome! To create an account, choose a username and password, then enter your email address – it’s as simple as that! You’ll be able to fill in your address and the rest of your infomration when completing your first order. IMPORTANT: If you wish to take part in the auctions, you will need to fill in your bank details first (card details, IBAN, etc.) in the ‘My Profile’ section of your account. Your personal space “My iDealwine” allows you to track your orders and your current bids, make purchases and organise deliveries, as well as taking advantage of several complementary services (virtual cellar, notifications, refer a friend, loyalty programme tracker...).

MY ACCOUNT AND MY PASSWORD

CHOOSE YOUR USERNAME : Your username should not be your email address, for privacy reasons. Please note, usernames are case-sensitive. Please do not include any spaces in your username. Your password should contain at least 12 characters, at least one uppercase letter and at least one number. To login, click on "My Account" in the top right-hand side of the the website and enter your username and password. If you can't remember your password, simply click on the "Forgotten password" link, and you'll get an email with instructions to reset it.

BUYING WINE

What types of wine will you find on iDealwine? iDealwine is one of a kind in the sector, since the wines on offer are from a wide range of countries and regions, in a range of vintages often covering the time span of a century. There are two ways to buy wine from us: through auctions and fixed-price sales.

Auctions: iDealwine is number 1 in France and, in fact, the whole of Europe for wine auctions: you will find an immense choice of fine wines, in a large selection of vintages. The wines are sourced from private cellars in Europe. Each bottle is evaluated by our expert team.

Fixed-price sales: Our traditional retail-style fixed price selection, offer a unique selection of wines at estate prices and come from wine regions in France and far beyond, including well-known producers and gems to discover. More than 900 estates have joined the iDealwine network. The fixed-price sales also include mature vintages from private cellars managed by iDealwine.

To help you with your purchases: There's a beginner’s buying guide page to help you choose wines based on your tastes and needs. A notification service: This system allows you to be instantly informed when your favourite wine is available.

SELL MY CELLAR

More details about our reselling and consigning wine from your cellar

WHY BECOME A MEMBER OF IDEALWINE?

There are at least 5 good reasons to create an iDealwine account:

I. Buy your wine easily and safely

At auction, we pride ourselves on our appraisal and safe transaction process. In the fixed-price section of the website, you’ll find a selection of wines from our partner producers, sold at producer prices, as well as mature vintages sourced from private collections.

II. Access to iDealwine Price Estimates

Our price estimates for fine wine, accessible for free, includes statistics for more than 126,000 different wines. The prices are updated every week based on the results of the biggest wine auctions (including ours).

III. Manage your collection

An online cellar service allows you to enter the bottles you currently have in your collection so that you can follow the evolution of their value over time. Also, a notification service allows you to follow your favourite wines.

IV. Consign your cellar

With iDealwine, you have access to a free and confidential evaluation of your wines by our experts, a bespoke service (wine collection, appraisal, selling, sending to buyer), and, importantly, a global platform to sell your bottles. More details about selling your cellar here

V. Become a wine pro

Beyond the information about wine prices, our team works hard to provide you with everything you could want to know, including tasting notes and food and wine pairings... Our weekly newsletter is the best way to stay informed of our latest sales and market trends.

IS THERE A LOYALTY PROGRAMME?

iDealwine’s best customers can make the most of our Loyalty Programme. With each purchase you make from our fixed-price section*, you will accumulate rebates. Your voucher is generated automatically after payment is made for an eligible order. Simply click on “Create my voucher code” in “My Account” and paste the code into the correct field on the payment page when settling an order. The rebate will be valid for a year from the date it is created and can be applied to any order. Depending on which status you have in the iDealwine Loyalty Programme, you will have a number of advantages at your fingertips such as invitations to events, gifts, offers from our partners, access to the private Quintessence sales, and so much more. Each level is reevaluated every six months so that eligible customers can enjoy their well-earnt perks.

*The iDealwine Loyalty Programme offers discounts on wines that are available in multiple lots in the fixed-price section of the website (not valid for auction purchases). It is solely applicable to wines sourced directly from producers with refundable VAT. When a wine is eligible for the Loyalty Programme, and as long as your status allows you to benefit from the programme, the discount available is specified on the wine's product page (just above the Buy button). You have to be logged into your client profile in order to see which lots are eligible for the programme.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS RESERVED FOR CLUB IDÉAL?

To become a member of the iDealwine's Club iDéal, you have to have spent over €4,000 on the site over the past 12 months.

These are the advantages available to members of Club iDéal:

1. Access to the iDealwine Loyalty Programme: Rebates equal to 5% of your purchases of multiple lots at fixed price (not applicable to auction purchases). They can be applied to wines in our fixed-price section which come directly from the producer only (and not applicable to sales of bottles that come from a private cellar).
2. Invitations to prestigious tasting events organised by iDealwine in France and abroad
3. Invitations to masterclasses organised by our team
4. A copy of our annual auction Barometer, an exclusive analysis of market trends in wine auctions
5. Special gifts and offers in association with our partners (subscriptions, wine events, ...)

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS RESERVED FOR PRIVILEGE MEMBERS?

To become a Privilege customer, you have to have spent over €500 on the site over the past 12 months.

These are the advantages available for Privilege customers:

1. Access to the iDealwine Loyalty Programme: credit notes equal to 3% of your purchases of multiple lots at fixed price (not applicable to auction purchases). They can be applied to wines in our fixed-price section which come directly from the producer only (and not applicable to sales of bottles that come from a private cellar).
2. Invitations to master classes organised by our team
3. A copy of our annual auction barometer, an exclusive analysis of market trends in wine auctions.
4. Special gifts and offers in association with our partners (guides, subscriptions, wine events, ...)

DO I NEED TO BE REFERRED TO BECOME AN IDEALWINE CLIENT?

It is not necessary to be recommended or referred in order to become an iDealwine client. However, you can always recommend us to friends! Our referral scheme is a little thank you for telling your family and friends about us, getting them to subscribe, and introducing them to the world of iDealwine. In order to refer a friend, you have to have already placed an order on the site. Both you and your referred friend will be rewarded with a credit note once the friend places an order. To recommend us to a friend, simply go to the referral page on your personal profile. When your friend places their first order, as long as it’s an order of over €150 on fixed-price wine, you will receive a €15 voucher. The friend will also receive a €15 voucher when they sign up. To use this credit note, place an order and, at the point of payment, fill in the provided code in the ‘promotional code’ box. The amount will then be automatically deduced from your invoice. Please note, you can’t refer someone with the same address or surname as you. iDealwine reserves the right to cancel a referral in the case of suspected misuse.

SHIPPING INFORMATION

MY WINE IS A MATURE VINTAGE AND IS FRAGILE. DO YOU USE PROTECTIVE PACKAGING?

Your bottles are sent in a secure manner in packaging supplemented by polystyrene cases or cardboard boxes. Our top-of-the-range packaging is recyclable, but we are working on finding a more environmentally friendly solution that offers the same level of protection.

SHIPPING FEES

Shipping fees are calculated according to destination and the number of bottles sent; you can find out more here.

SHIPPING TIMES

Please allow up to 2 working days for order preparation, then add the corresponding shipping times:

FRANCE

• Standard delivery with our Colissimo shipping partner: 2 - 5 working days.
• Express delivery with our Chronopost shipping partner: 1 - 2 working days. Or collect your order from a pick-up point the day after delivery there.

Information about Chronopost pick-up point, only for Metropolitan France: You can choose to have your orders delivered to a pick-up point near to where you live. If you wish to have your bottles delivered in this way, select “Pick-up point” on the delivery option page. You will then receive an email with a tracking number and all other important information. If your parcel is left at a local pick-up point in Metropolitan France, you have: 14 days if it is stored at a post office or a Chronopost location, and 7 calendar days if it is stored at a Relais Pickup before it will be returned on the 8th day. 3 days if it is stored at a pick-up station (deposit locker). Please note that this option is only available for orders containing up to 12 standard 750ml bottles and is not available for those that contain wooden cases.

EU

• Standard delivery with our Colissimo shipping partner: 3 - 7 working days.
• Express delivery with our UPS or Chronopost shipping partners: 2 - 5 working days.

NON-EU COUNTRIES

Please note that all deliveries outside of the EU are subjected to customs fees, duties and local taxes. iDealwine has no control or oversight over local customs charges and does not benefit from them. We wish we could shed more light on possible additional fees but unfortunately it is out of our hands. Charges must be paid in order for delivery to take place, our shipping partners will contact you to arrange payment. Our customer service team can indicate the official rate and formulas, but we cannot guarantee the precise amount. The good news is you can shop VAT-free on iDealwine! As soon as your log in and select your shipping country outside the European Union, we will automatically remove French VAT, so you don’t end up paying twice.

I LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION; CAN I REQUEST A VAT REFUND?

There’s no need to request a VAT refund as we deduct VAT before payment. Selected auction lots and fixed price wines qualify for recoverable VAT. Once you are logged into your iDealwine account, and your shipping country is outside of the European Union, VAT will automatically be deducted from our fixed-price wines and from our buyer’s premium. For recoverable VAT on auctions, the price is displayed including VAT, but your invoice will exclude the VAT automatically. Please note, once your order is confirmed, the shipping country cannot be changed.

I AM A WINE PROFESSIONAL; CAN I PURCHASE WINES WITHOUT VAT?

There’s no need to request a VAT refund as we deduct VAT before payment. Selected auction lots and fixed price wines qualify for recoverable VAT. This is relevant for all wine professionals whose delivery address is outside of France, including those with the EU. For EU professionals, make sure you have supplied a valid intra-community VAT number. Once logged into your professional iDealwine account, VAT will automatically be deducted from our fixed-price wines and from our buyer’s premium. For recoverable VAT on auctions, the price is displayed including VAT, but your invoice will exclude the VAT automatically. Please note, once your order is confirmed, the shipping country cannot be changed.

HOW CAN I FIND WINES THAT QUALIFY FOR RECOVERABLE VAT?

Our handy filters will help you identify these great value wines.

1. Use our main drop-down menu, hover over “our auctions”, then select “lots with recoverable VAT”.
2. Alternatively, and to view wines with recoverable VAT that are sold at auction and fixed price, use the “advanced search” filter where wines are listed.

HOW DO I CALCULATE HOW MUCH VAT WILL BE DEDUCTED?

We’ll do it for you! If you have further questions regarding VAT, please contact our customer service team.

UK

We still deliver to the UK after Brexit. Please see the information below and read this blog article for more information.

Please note the following additional costs for shipping wine to the UK:

• Administration and customs fees as well as duty and tax.
• A €10 flat rate fee will apply to all shipments that include Champagne. This is payable at checkout.

This will appear in the summary of your basket on the website in the line called 'Local taxes and duties'. The sum of these charges is payable directly on our website during the final payment screen.

DELIVERY TIME AND SHIPPING FEES
iDealwine's shipping fees have not increased after Brexit. Ship up to 12 bottles for €29.00.
For more information, please consult the Delivery Fee page.
Delivery to the United Kingdom from payment date takes approximately 10 working days. Please be aware that occasional delays occur at UK customs.

USA

iDealwine has over 10 years’ experience delivering wine to the United States. We send shipments to the US every week from France, which typically arrive 3-4 weeks after payment is received. The bottles are placed in protective packaging designed especially for transporting wine, which reduces the risk of damage from heat or movement. Once the wines leave our warehouse in Champagne, you will receive a tracking number to follow your delivery.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no shipments in July and August to avoid the summer heat affecting the wine.

Our customer service team is with you every step of the way and is happy to help with any questions you may have. Get in touch with us by email at americas@idealwine.com and you will get an answer from our team based in New York.

2025 update: Worried about recent tariffs?

For all shipments to the USA, import fees will be applied: 15% tax on the value of goods in your order, plus €37 ($44, subject to variation) in customs handling fees. These fees will be paid directly to iDealwine when paying the delivery fees for your order.

We have waived all storage fees for US customers. You can continue to purchase wine safe in the knowledge that you can ship your orders when it suits. We will not charge you for storage, which is in a temperature controlled, professional facility in France.

Terms and conditions: Storage fees waived for US customers only. Valid for as long as current tariffs (15%) last, or until 31 January 2029, whichever occurs first. Valid for fully paid orders only.

ASIA

Our dedicated Hong Kong and Singapore team is here to help all customers in Asia:

HONG KONG: Express delivery by air in 1 to 3 weeks, please get in touch with: hk@idealwine.com

July

Shipment cut-off: 7 July → Estimated arrival: 17 July

Second shipment cut-off: 21 July → Estimated arrival: 31 July

August

Shipment cut-off: 4 August → Estimated arrival: 14 August

Second shipment cut-off: 18 August → Estimated arrival: 28 August

September

Shipment cut-off: 1 September → Estimated arrival: 11 September

Second shipment cut-off: 15 September → Estimated arrival: 25 September

Third shipment cut-off: 29 September → Estimated arrival: 9 October

October

Shipment cut-off: 13 October → Estimated arrival: 23 October

Second shipment cut-off: 27 October → Estimated arrival: 6 November

November

Shipment cut-off: 7 November → Estimated arrival: 20 November

Second shipment cut-off: 24 November → Estimated arrival: 4 December

December

Shipment cut-off: 8 December → Estimated arrival: 18 December

HONG KONG - Sea shipment:
June

No shipments – Summer Break

July

No shipments – Summer Break

August

No shipments – Summer Break

September

Shipment cut-off: 22 August → Estimated arrival: by the end of November

October

Shipment cut-off: 3 October → Estimated arrival: by the end of December

November

Shipment cut-off: 31 October → Estimated arrival: by the end of January 2026

December

Shipment cut-off: 28 November → Estimated arrival: by the end of February 2026

* The booked freight schedule may be changed by the airline or ship carrier. In this case, please believe that our team will do its best to maintain the announced schedule and to keep you updated about any change of the delivery period. Thank you for your understanding.

SINGAPORE: Delivery by air in 2-4 weeks, please get in touch with: sg@idealwine.com

July

Shipment cut-off: 11 July → Estimated arrival: 23 July

Second shipment cut-off: 28 July → Estimated arrival: 6 August

August

Shipment cut-off: 8 August → Estimated arrival: 20 August

Second shipment cut-off: 25 August → Estimated arrival: 3 September

September

Shipment cut-off: 8 September → Estimated arrival: 17 September

Second shipment cut-off: 22 September → Estimated arrival: 1 October

October

Shipment cut-off: 6 October → Estimated arrival: 15 October

Second shipment cut-off: 20 October → Estimated arrival: 29 October

November

Shipment cut-off: 3 November → Estimated arrival: 12 November

Second shipment cut-off: 17 November → Estimated arrival: 26 November

December

Shipment cut-off: 1 December → Estimated arrival: 10 December

Second shipment cut-off: 15 December → Estimated arrival: 24 December (no guarantee for Christmas delivery)

DELIVERING ORDERS TO A COUNTRY OTHER THAN YOUR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE

We understand that you might want to have orders delivered to a country other than your registered home address from time to time. This is absolutely possible to do. You can change the delivery country within your account before bidding or buying and have your orders delivered to your country of choice. If you regularly order to several different delivery countries, you can create a new account for each country. If you are already a Privilege or Club member, we would be more than happy to upgrade your new account to the same membership status. Do not hesitate to contact us at info@idealwine.com with the details of your new account (log-in name or email address) so that we can put the changes in place. However, we can not change the delivery country once an order has been placed. Changing the delivery country has a direct effect on the taxes applied and therefore, on the declarations iDealwine and our sellers need to make to the French authorities. Changing the final destination of a lot may put both iDealwine and our sellers in fiscal danger. We thank you in advance for your understanding on this point.

COMBINING MULTIPLE ORDERS AND POSTPONING SHIPMENT

It is possible to group orders under certain conditions.

This allows you to:

• Ship several orders from different sales (fixed-price and/or auction) together.
• Optimise the shipping costs to have your wines delivered within a month.
• Postpone delivery.
• Store your wines for free for 30 days from the date of purchase.

Important:

The order begins from the moment it is generated. In order to take advantage of postponing an order, the payment for your first order must have been completed immediately. Shipment fees will be due when your grouped order is sent. This option should not be confused with the option to store your wines for 30 days. Note that there is no limit on the number of bottles you can order. Shipment costs are calculated based on delivery brackets. For example, a full package is made up of 12 bottles maximum or 6 magnums. Each bottle above this number will be charged according to the corresponding delivery bracket, adding one or more packages to your shipment. To avail of this option, choose ‘Postpone delivery/combine order’ then ‘Continue’: We recommend you use the “postpone delivery” option if you believe the temperature not to be right for transporting wine or if you will be absent. Once you are ready to receive your order, simply log into your account and pay the shipment fee. If you have exceeded the 30 days of free storage, supplementary fees will have to be paid (€0.09 per day and per bottle).

Please note:

If you opt for immediate delivery, we cannot interrupt the preparation of your order.

COLLECT MY ORDER IN PERSON

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PICK UP YOUR ORDER YOURSELF, IDEALWINE OFFERS:

Collection from our warehouse in Colombes, France (92)

You can come and collect your order directly from our storage cellar in Colombes by appointment only. Choose the “Collect on site” option when completing your order. There will be no shipment costs for this kind of collection. You can make an appointment via the link sent to you via email when your order arrived on site. Our address: 190, rue d'Estienne d'Orves, 92700 Colombes, France. Orders can be collected Monday - Friday, from 9am – 5.30pm. You will need to bring a piece of identity with you. Order collection must take place no more than 14 days after the order is placed. Storage fees will apply if orders are left for longer, at a rate of €0.09 including VAT per day and per bottle.

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY ORDER

Our teams take the greatest care in preparing your order. However, if on opening your package you think there’s something wrong (cuvée, vintage, etc...), contact our Customer Services by email at info@idealwine.com, specifying the nature of the error, and if need be, attaching a photo. Our Customer Services team will respond as quickly as possible and we will try our best to find a solution.

I WASN’T AT HOME WHEN THE PARCEL WAS DELIVERED

If you’re not at home when the parcel is delivered, a calling card will be posted through your letter box and/or sent via email. The package will be available to collect from your nearest Post Office for 14 days from the day after the first or second delivery attempt. Don’t forget to take your identification with you as well as the calling card with the tracking number.

CAN I CANCEL AN ORDER?

At iDealwine, purchases can be made through fixed-price sales and auctions. These two ways of buying have different conditions.

For auctions:

As a legal and irrevocable act, you cannot request the cancellation of an auction as you might with a regular purchase. Auctions function based on the bidders desire to acquire a good and in order to limit all fraud, the cancellation or modification of auction wins is against the law.

For fixed-price sales:

It is possible to cancel a direct, fixed-price sale on condition that you inform us within 14 days of the initial order. If the order has not yet been sent, it can be cancelled without cost – please contact customer services to request this cancellation. If the order has already been sent, it can be returned for a fee, within the time limits set.

I HAVEN’T RECEIVED MY ORDER

iDealwine has selected couriers with the best quality service. Your delivery is insured against all risks related to transport (loss, theft, damage). For orders shipped by Colissimo or Chronopost within France and Europe, iDealwine will reimburse the shipment cost if the shipping time last 10 days more than the time indicated in the “Shipping Information” section. For deliveries to the USA, Australia, and Asia, please refer to the shipment schedule for each destination. In case a problem arises, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Services (info@idealwine.com) as soon as possible. The Customer Services team will communicate the problem to the necessary provider and will investigate, if necessary. Any compensation will be paid once the investigation has finished.

MY PACKAGE IS BROKEN OR DAMAGED

Your bottles are sent in specially adapted, safe and isothermal packaging. If the polystyrene is broken on opening the box, this means it has fulfilled its protective role. If, however, the bottles inside the package are broken, you must take a photo of the damage and refuse to accept the package. Then contact Customer Services (info@idealwine.com) so that an investigation can take place and compensation can be provided once this has been concluded.

https://www.idealwine.com/en/sell-my-wines

HOW DO AUCTIONS WORK?

iDealwine’s auctions follow the same principles as all traditional (in-person) auctions. The only difference here is that the auction is entirely online.
Our auction lots have gone through the same appraisal and authentication processes as traditional auctions. iDealwine is a licensed auctioneer through its subsidiary IWA (International Wine Auction), which has the status of Opérateur de Ventes Volontaires (operator of auction sales in English) agreed by the Conseil des Ventes.
IWA Auction guarantees the authenticity and conformity of wines with the description included in the catalogue, and the correct process and completion of transactions.

ARE THE WINES SOLD AT AUCTION ASSESSED BY EXPERTS?

All the products sold at auction are appraised, assessed and meticulously evaluated by our team of specialists to weed out any bottles in a poor condition or those that seem to be counterfeit. Our experts look carefully at the level of wine in the bottle, the condition of the label and the cork, checking that there is no mould present, as well as also noting the conditions of the cellar from which the bottles were collected. The bottles sold at auction come from the cellars of wine enthusiasts – professionals and private collectors – who take great care to preserve their wine in the best conditions possible.

WHAT FEES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH BUYING AT AUCTION?

Winning bids are subject to a buyer's premium, which is 25.2% incl. tax (21% excl. tax). This is automatically calculated for you and will appear in your confirmation email. Unsuccessful bids are not subject to any fees.

SEE MORE

How do iDealwine’s auctions work?

Our auctions only take place online on the iDealwine website. At the exact moment of the sale closing, the final person offering the highest bid on a lot is the one who wins it. To participate in an auction, simply go to the lot that interests you and indicate the highest price you are willing to pay for it. iDealwine fixes a reserve price (a minimum price) on each lot. This price corresponds to the lowest estimate made by our team during their evaluation of the seller’s bottles. Alternatively, the wine can be put up for sale without a reserve price, with €1 as the starting price. During the bids placed by different interested buyers, the price increases by steps known as ‘bidding increments’. The bidding increment corresponds to the minimum amount needed to make a higher bid. For example, if a lot is priced at less than €50, the minimum bidding increment is of €3; if the bottle is priced at between €50 and €100, the minimum bidding increment is of €5. The bidding increments are as follows:

What is the maximum bid?

You have the possibility to preset the maximum you are willing to bid for a lot. This maximum bid (not visible to other bidders) will only be reached if others bid against you. Your bid will be increased automatically until the maximum you set is reached without you having to follow the lot. In order to set a maximum bid, click on the “Maximum Bid” button on the lot you are interested in. When you arrive at the highest price you are willing to bid for the lot, click on the “Confirm” button. Your maximum bid will only be reached if there is competition for the lot.

System to automatically extend auctions – "Overtime bidding"

When a bidder places a bid in the final 5 minutes of an auction (the time and date of closing are listed in the "Our Auctions" menu), the catalogue is automatically extended by 5 minutes.
If another bidder places a bid in the 30 seconds before the new closing time, the catalogue is automatically extended by 30 seconds. This system of extending the auction closing time by 30 seconds can be repeated 9 times, meaning that the maximum time auctions can be extended by cannot exceed 9 minutes and 30 seconds.

Where do the wines up for auction come from?

The wines up for sale come from cellars belonging to great wine enthusiasts across Europe. These owners contacted iDealwine to obtain an estimate for their bottles and decided to consign their collection through our website. iDealwine, through its affiliate IWA Auction (approved by the Conseil des Ventes) is today the no.1 platform of its kind in France and, more broadly, in Europe for wine auctions.

Where are the wines being auctioned kept?

The wines up for auction at iDealwine, which come from the collections of European wine enthusiasts, are first transported to iDealwine’s appraisal department, either by the consignor or by iDealwine’s specialist team, who collect them in person. Once they have been expertly appraised (assessment, verification, description, photographed), the wines are then stored in a warehouse with controlled temperature and humidity levels throughout the sale period. Once they’ve been auctioned, they are sent directly to the buyer.

Do I need to do anything before bidding?

During an auction, it is free to bid but this is irreversible. To bid, you have to already be signed up as a member of iDealwine and have entered your preferred payment method.

How do I know if I’ve won a bid?

If, before the closure of a sale, your bid is exceeded by another bidder, you will be informed via email. You can continue bidding on a lot until the end of an auction. At the end of every auction, you will receive an email detailing the results for each lot you’ve placed a bid on, and the price at which you’ve won it, if this is the case.

Important:

This email does not allow you to immediately complete your order. For this, you have to wait for all the auctions happening that day to close.

At what point do I pay for my auction wins?

At the end of a sale in which you’ve made one or several purchases, iDealwine groups together your winning bids in one order and send you an email entitled “Result of your order”. It’s at this point that you’ll be invited to complete your payment and choose your preferred delivery/collection method. NB – In some circumstances, you can group together this order with other purchases made on the site, whether this be another auction or a fixed-price sale.

Can I sell some of my bottles as well?

Yes, of course! The first thing to do is send us a list of the wines you’d like to consign in order to obtain a price estimate. Ask for a price estimate and find out more about selling your wines with iDealwine

How is the iDealwine Price Estimate calculated?

iDealwine’s Price Estimate service is free for all users signed up to the site. The prices, updated every week, accurately reflect the evolution of the market. iDealwine keeps a record of all the auction results from the site. As well as this, we keep track of all the results from the biggest wine auction houses in France. Every week, these results add to our extensive database of price estimates. The estimate given corresponds to price attained in the auction house, in other words the auction hammer price, increased by the auctioneer fees. The estimate takes into account the results of the main auctions in France as well as iDealwine’s online sales. Do you own or seek a wine that doesn’t have an entry in our database? Do you want to know its value? You can ask for a personalised response from our team of experts: estimate@idealwine.com

WHERE DOES IDEALWINE SOURCE FIXED-PRICE WINE?

Our passionate team works hard to find the best producers, managing trustworthy, long-term relationships with partner producers and wineries – we’ve been working with some producers for more than 15 years. The team is committed to sharing our passion and our favourites.

There are two categories of wine in the fixed-price sales:

• Wines bought directly from a network of partners producers, as well as via wine merchants (notable for fine Bordeaux wines). The wines are sold at local producer prices.
• Older vintages that come from the cellars of wine enthusiasts who wish to sell their wine quickly, without the waiting that comes with selling via auction. Each bottle is appraised, meticulously checked and evaluated by our team of specialists.

IS THERE A MINIMUM ORDER? CAN I BUY SINGLE BOTTLES?

There is no minimum order, you can buy one bottle of all wines that have been sourced directly from producers. The only exception to this is some older vintages. When these have been acquired from private collectors, they may be sold as sets of 1, 2, 3, 6, or 12 bottles.

PAYING FOR MY ORDER

For direct, fixed-price sales, payment is required immediately in order to complete the purchase. The process is slightly different when bidding at auction. Once you have placed a bid at auction, you must wait until the hammer falls at the end of the auction (each auction lasts 10-15 days) in order to see if you have won your bid and if so, then you may pay for the order containing wines won during the auction. You will receive a link indicating your order number a few hours after the sale closes. Payment can be carried out on the page “My account” > “My orders”. Choose your delivery/collection option: home delivery or collection if you're based in the Paris region.

WHICH PAYMENT METHODS CAN BE USED AT IDEALWINE?

The choice of payment method is made when you sign up to the site. Your predered payment method can be added in your account. Go to My iDealwine ad then Payment and delivery.

Payment by bank card

Payment by bank card is completed on an entirely secure area of the site.

Payment by bank transfer

It is possible to pay by bank transfer.

Please note:

For clients outside of France, if you wish to pay by bank transfer, you must first activate your account with the view to making a purchase, fill out the form, complete with your IBAN and a photocopy of your identification document. If you can no longer find the form, click here. Once we have received this information, iDealwine will confirm that you can place orders from both our fixed-price sales and at auction. This process may take several days (you cannot make a purchase immediately after signing up, you have to wait for your file to be received and validated).

If you pay by bank transfer, your wines will be sent or made available for collection only once your payment has been received.

IS THE SITE SECURE?

Payments made through iDealwine are entirely secure. To manage payment by bank card, iDealwine uses the secure BNP PARIBAS payment platform: Axepta. iDealwine does not have access to the bank details of clients. This information is encrypted using SSL (Secured Socket Layer) protocol and is transmitted directly by the secure Axepta server.

Please note: If you wish to avoid using your bank card details on the internet, you can opt for “Other payment methods” when you sign up to iDealwine. Then you may make your payments via bank transfer.

I CHOSE “OTHER PAYMENT METHOD” WHEN I SIGNED UP, AND CAN NO LONGER ACCESS THE FORM

Do you want to make your purchases by bank transfer? In order for us to activate your account so that you can participate in the auctions, you must send us a form, along with your IBAN and a copy of an identity document. To access the form, click here

I CAN’T CONNECT TO MY ACCOUNT

To access your account, log in (top right of the site) with your username and password. Have you forgotten your password? Click on the 'Forgotten password' link, and you will receive a link by email to set a new password.

I CAN’T COMPLETE MY PURCHASE

Check in your account that your profile has been 100% verified and that all your orders have been paid. To verify your account, you may need to upload ID and bank details if you wish to pay by bank transfer, but is not required for credit card payment. Once any unpaid orders have been settles and your account verified, your account should be unblocked automatically.

I’M HAVING A PROBLEM WITH PAYMENT

Several issues can explain difficulties with payment on the iDealwine website:

• Your card’s online spend limit has been reached.
• If you have a poor internet connection, the payment process may have timed out

Note:

If a 3D secure payment validation text has not been sent by your bank, you can assume that the payment has not gone through.

To avoid accidentally paying twice, don’t hesitate to contact our Accounts department via the following email: recouvrement@idealwine.com

HOW DO I FIND THE BEST WINE FOR ME?

If you’re finding it hard to navigate the enormous choice of wines for sale, take a look at our beginner’s buying guide.

We have written detailed descriptions of all our wines to guide you in your choice. We also recommend that you keep up with our blog and subscribe to our weekly newsletter. These are the best ways to find out our latest favourites, reports and interviews with our partner producers, and the current trends in the wine market. Follow us on social media as well – this is a great way to get started with a community of wine lovers!

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT WINE?

Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or a total beginner, iDealwine is happy to offer an insight into the wonderful world of wine and to share our passion.

Vintage notes:

You'll find detailed descriptions for each year of the quality of each vintage produced in the most important viticultural regions in France. You can also access a precise description of each year, including the climate, vinification conditions and the final quality of the vintage in the winery. Go to the Vintage Notes page.

Wine encyclopedia:

A practical menu for decoding the language of wine, exploring the map of the best viticultural regions, and discovering hints and tips for buying, storing and tasting your wines.

Wine news on the iDealwine blog:

Each week, the iDealwine blog is updated with interesting articles about what’s happening in famous domains and in the wine world more broadly.

iDealwine Newsletter

Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter – it’s free, and it will provide you with all the latest information about the wine world and market trends.

Read an example of our newsletter

HOW SHOULD I MANAGE MY CELLAR?

iDealwine offers tools to manage your collection on your account, in the ‘My Cellar’ section of the website. Fill in the wines that you have in your own collection and the value of these will be updated over time, and you can follow its progress, comparing the price at which you bought it to its current price estimate. This evaluation will be updated every week based on the result of each of our auctions. This service is free, and you just need to be signed up to the website to access it.

How do I add my collection(s) to iDealwine?

You can add your virtual cellar to your iDealwine account using the search function on the ‘My Cellar’ page. For each wine you select, you can enter the date of purchase and the price you bought it for. The system will automatically calculate the value of your collection and compare this to your purchase price. You can add an unlimited number of collections, based on the one you already have at home, the collection of your dreams, or as a way of grouping together certain wines whose progress you wish to follow. Please note: This free service was not created to compete with collection management tools already available on the market. It is made available for wine enthusiasts to provide an evaluation of their cellar.

How do I manage my collection on iDealwine?

With iDealwine, you have your collection at your fingertips and you can manage it from the website. Its estimated value will change each week based on the latest auction results. Once you’ve added your collection, you can update it by clicking on ”Modify your collection" or "Add a wine". You can also, of course, remove the wines that you’ve already enjoyed. It’s also on this part of the website that you can choose to sell your wines on in just a few clicks. To manage your cellar and keep up with market trends, go to Investing in wine.

WHAT INFORMATION CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT THE WINE?

The iDealwine Price Estimate gives you access to a detailed description for each wine, including:

• The wine’s characteristics (the producer's story, type of viticulture methods used, type of the wine produced)
• Tasting notes
• When best to drink it
• Prices from the most recent auction
• Estimate archives since 1993
• Market trends for this wine

To access this service, you have to be a member of iDealwine and it's free to sign up! You can also programme a notification about the availability of wines that interest you in an upcoming sale which will tell you when the bottle is available. You can contact our team if you have a particular bottle that you would like to sell.

How can I keep track of market trends?

With a strong background in French and European auctions since 2000, iDealwine has become the leading website in France for selling wine at auction. Our teams consistently analyse the market and offer you their advice to help you in managing your collection. We use different indicators to inform you of the current trends (key figures, indexes), meaning that you can better navigate our current online sales, anticipate changes in the market and make the best choice for you.

Among our educational tools you’ll find:

The iDealwine newsletter:

To receive the most important information from us every week, sign up to our newsletter. This is free and is a perfect way to stay up to date with the latest news from the wine world. Here you will also find special offers from particular domains, information about our auctions, and all of the best deals in our sales. We write articles about vinification, advice for managing your cellar and for tasting, as well as the latest market trends.

Sign up to receive our newsletter

You should also follow our social media accounts – this is a great way to stay up to date with the wonderful community of wine enthusiasts!

The iDealwine indexes:

iDealwine has also developed a series of indexes. There are four:

• Index iDealwine 100: the general index for the wine market, it groups together the principal wine production regions in France: Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône
• iDeal Bordeaux: made up of Bordeaux’s 40 principal wines
• iDeal Bourgogne: made up of Burgundy’s 40 principal wines
• iDeal Rhône: made up of 25 of the Rhône Valley’s most sought-after wines

The iDealwine indexes have been calculated since 2007. They are updated every month and compared to France’s main stock market index: the CAC 40. In order to ensure a good representation of the wines in each index, they are considered across a range of 10 vintages each.

The iDealwine Barometer:

Every year, iDealwine publishes an analysis of the year’s auctions, offering perspectives of the current year’s progress. This analysis, available during the first quarter, is addressed to members of the Club iDéal and Privilege Customers.

WHY USE OUR CELLAR STORAGE SERVICE?

iDealwine’s storage cellar service provides a space to store your wine safely and securely. The storage conditions are ideal for wine conservation and continuously controlled:

• Your wine will be stored between 14°C and 16°C in 70% to 80% humidity.
• They will be kept away from vibrations and light.
• All-round security: Raod barriers and controlled acces, under video survalance and alarms, in a building with a guardien, high-tech fire warning and sprinkler system.

WHAT ARE THE STORAGE FEES?

We offer storage solutions per every 180 bottles.

ARE THERE ARE ANY EXTRA CHARGES FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION?

If the wines are purchased or resold through iDealwine, customers will benefit from unlimited placement in storage as well as removal for resale. For non-iDealwine purchases, there is a small fee of €0.25 per bottle for placement in storage. If you wish to remove a bottle from your storage space for delivery, there is a fee of €0.50 per bottle regardless of where the bottle was purchased (iDealwine or elsewhere).

DO I NEED TO PURCHASE INSURANCE FOR MY WINES?

All our storage solutions include comprehensive insurance, to a maximum value of €50 per bottle. Supplementary insurance is invoiced at a rate of 0.39% if the average bottle price of stored wines and spirits exceeds €50 per bottle. For example: A collection of 300 bottles is valued at €45,000. Standard insurance includes €50 x 300 = €15,000. The client will not be covered by insurance for €30,000.

Pricing for top-up insurance: €30,000 is charged at 0.39 % = €117 per year or €9.75 per month.

WHY CONSIGN THROUGH IDEALWINE?

Customers may enjoy 20% off iDealwine sellers’ fee when reselling wines through iDealwine and its subsidiaries.

WHAT IS THE PAYMENT PROCESS?

iDealwine receives storage fees via direct debit. These fees will be debited from your bank account once per month (around the 15th of each month). If you wish to use an alternative payment method, please contact stockage@idealwine.com.

HOW DO I STORE EXTERNAL PURCHASES?

If you would like to store bottles not purchased on the iDealwine website, please fill in the Excel file available on the website and email it to our team at stockage@idealwine.com.

HOW DO I STORE MY BOTTLES PURCHASED ON IDEALWINE?

When you make a purchase on our website, select the delivery option "Store with iDealwine" if you already have a storage contract with iDealwine and your wines will be moved into your storage space.