There is a particular character to acquiring wine at auction. It is, in many ways, the oldest way of buying fine wine — and the most considered. A bid is not a casual gesture. It is an offer, made with intention, and binding from the moment it is placed.
This is your guide to what that means in practice.
A bid is an offer
When you place a bid at a LANGTONS auction, you are making an irrevocable offer to acquire the lot at that price. If yours is the successful bid at the close of the auction, the lot is yours — and the sale is binding.
We say this not to caution, but to clarify. Auction is built on intention. Bid for the lots you would genuinely like to own, at the levels you are genuinely prepared to pay.
How auction differs from the Wine Store
A Wine Store purchase is immediate, at a set price, with the wine ready to dispatch. An auction purchase is the result of competitive bidding, with a price discovered over the course of the sale.
A few practical differences worth knowing:
- Bids cannot be withdrawn. Once placed, they stand.
- The Buyer's Premium is added to your winning bid to arrive at the total purchase price. See The art of bidding at LANGTONS.
- Mature wines vary. Auction wines are often older, drawn from private cellars, and may show the gentle marks of their years. Read each lot description with care.
- Some consumer guarantees apply differently to auction wines than to Wine Store purchases. See Auction purchases: when a remedy may apply.
Why our clients choose auction
For all that an auction asks of you, it offers a great deal in return:
- access to wines no longer available through traditional channels
- the pleasure of discovery — and, often, of acquiring at a considered price
- mature vintages, large formats and rarities not found in the Wine Store
- the quiet thrill of the sale itself
Worth knowing
If a bid is placed in error, please speak with us as quickly as possible. Cancellation cannot be guaranteed, but we will always try to help.
A considered first step is Your first auction — a considered introduction. From there, The art of bidding at LANGTONS will take you deeper into how bidding works at LANGTONS.
Suggested articles
- Your first auction — a considered introduction
- The art of bidding at LANGTONS
- Auction purchases: when a remedy may apply
- Fair and trusted auctions
A conversation is often the easiest place to begin.
Whether you are discovering a single bottle or building a cellar, our specialists are here to guide you. Share your enquiry through our Customer Experience contact form one of our specialists will be in touch shortly.
You are also welcome to speak with your Private Client Manager, or call us on 1300 946 347.