Wine and Spirits Appraisal

There are numerous situations where you need a certified wine and spirits appraiser to appraise a wine and spirits collection. Should you find yourself in one of those situations Cork Counsel can appraise your collection and provide a meticulous report of unimpeachable quality. Neil’s qualifications are unparalleled. He is the only wine and spirits appraiser who is a candidate for the Master of Wine, an American Appraisers Association certified wine and spirits appraiser, an attorney and a wine and spirits industry veteran.

Cork Counsel can guarantee singular service and an authoritative appraisal that will stand up to scrutiny.

INSURANCE
Whether you are an agent or underwriter working on risk management or a claim, or a collector seeking insurance, Cork Counsel can inspect, inventory and appraise a wine and spirits collection. Wine and spirits are generally not covered by a homeowner’s policy, and obtaining an appraisal and insurance could avoid problems before they happen. In the unfortunate event of damage to a collection Cork Counsel can appraise the wine and spirits and determine the extent and value of the loss.

DIVORCE
A collection can represent a significant marital asset. To ensure that this asset is fairly treated in the property settlement it could be advisable to have it professionally appraised. Utilizing Neil’s combined wine and spirits and legal background, Cork Counsel is available for consultation to review the situation, identify the parties’ unique needs and help determine the most prudent course of action.

ESTATE PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION
Whether for estate planning or during the administration of an estate, the value of a collection must be accurately established to ensure fair treatment of the heirs and satisfy the relevant tax authorities. Cork Counsel can work with attorneys and their clients to avoid errors that could complicate planning and probate.

BANKRUPTCY
For the protection of creditors and to help the person filing best satisfy obligations, a collection should be appraised during bankruptcy proceedings. A wine and spirits collection can be a significant asset and should not be overlooked, but the appraisal needs to be authoritative and capable of withstanding challenge and scrutiny.

CHARITABLE DONATIONS
The IRS has stringent demands for documenting wine and spirits-based charitable donations. Cork Counsel provides the USPAP compliant appraisals required by the IRS and can help avoid disallowance of your tax deduction.

Inspections

Wine requires particular storage conditions to preserve its quality and value. Fluctuations or extremes in temperature, humidity levels, and exposure to water and light can all impact not only the cosmetic condition of the wine but also the integrity of the wine within the bottle. In the event of possible damage to a wine collection, be it from a problem with storage conditions or an adverse event, there may be an insurance claim related to the collection. Cork Counsel can work with the wine owner, broker, adjuster or underwriter to inspect the wine and assess its condition. Having done this, we can then determine the degree to which the wine has been damaged and the ultimate loss of value.

Brokerage/
Consultancy

Both buyers and sellers of wine and spirits can benefit from expert advice. For instance, when you choose to liquidate any or all of your collection you want to make sure you are maximizing its financial potential. This involves:

• Determining which of your wines and spirits to sell

• Where to sell them

• When to sell.

Similarly, when you acquire wine and spirits you may want to purchase not only ones you enjoy drinking but also those that can be strong investments.

All of these considerations can vary dramatically depending on the particular time and market conditions. You need, therefore, guidance from someone expert not only in wine and spirits but also in the wine and spirits investment, auction and retail markets.

Neil has decades of commercial experience with fine and rare wine and spirits and is thoroughly conversant in the primary and secondary markets for them. He will use his expertise and experience to optimize the sale or purchase of your wine and spirits. After thorough consultation he will:

• Review your portfolio and objectives

• Create for you an individualized proposal

• Help you determine the most effective time, place and selection of wines and spirits to buy or sell

• Source wines and spirits, solicit offers and obtain best price.

With Cork Counsel as your wine and spirits broker and consultant, you can be assured that you will receive personal attention and maximized effectiveness in your transactions.

Relocations

Moving a wine collection requires special care. Your wine is valuable and should be entrusted only to professionals who are equipped for and capable of dealing with it. Cork Counsel works with a network of wine freight specialists who ship exclusively under temperature control and will guarantee safe arrival of your wine. Next, we can create an inventory of your collection or update an existing one so that both you and the freight carrier have an exact count of your wines. During the moving process we will supervise the packing, identifying and recording which wines are in which boxes so you can easily locate them upon delivery. Lastly, should you so desire, we can be present for receiving and unpacking to make certain everything is done to your satisfaction from beginning to end. Moving is stressful enough. Let us worry about your wine.