Welcome to Fine Wine Spy. With decades of experience, we offer concierge cellar services, including wine valuation, management, and authentication.
Wine Valuation
We specialize in inventory and valuation of wines and spirits for insurance, legal, and tax purposes. All appraisals are USPAP compliant.
We specialize in inventory and valuation of wines and spirits for insurance, legal, and tax purposes. All appraisals are USPAP compliant.
Authentication
We conduct fraud and counterfeit detection which includes the examination of each bottle. We look for consistency compared to known authentic examples, as well as known counterfeit examples.
We conduct fraud and counterfeit detection which includes the examination of each bottle. We look for consistency compared to known authentic examples, as well as known counterfeit examples.
Wine Valuation
We specialize in the valuation of wines and spirits for insurance, legal, and tax purposes. All appraisals meet the rigorous standards of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
We prepare USPAP compliant appraisal reports for:
- Insurance policies, loss claims, and adjustments
- Marriage dissolution and asset distribution
- Trusts, wills, probate as well as estate probate and sales
- Loan collateral, foreclosure, or bankruptcy
- Non-cash charitable donation
Our services include onsite examination and reliable current market research to support our valuation conclusions.
We can determine damage and loss of value to your collection from issues arising from temperature fluctuations, flooding and bottle fraud. Results of our conclusion will be delivered to you in a formal report. We work with insurance adjusters, attorneys, wine brokers, auction houses, and other professionals to address your appraisal needs. We can provide expert testimony to support our conclusions, if necessary.
Our expertise ensures that clients receive credible, professional appraisals tailored to their unique needs while adhering to the highest industry standards.
Cellar Management
We inventory and catalog each bottle in your collection and organize them according to your preferences. If desired, we enter your holdings into a cellar tracking system.
We carefully manage purchase and sales receipts to preserve provenance and streamline your recordkeeping. We provide regular inventory updates to ensure that your collection remains accurate and up-to-date.
We offer expert advise on the purchase and sale of wine through trusted sources to help you curate the perfect collection.
This approach ensures that you enjoy both a well-organized collection and professional guidance to protect the integrity of your investment and wine valuation.
Wine Authentication
We conduct wine fraud detection analysis, including the examination of each bottle in question. We look for consistency compared to known authentic examples as well as known counterfeits. Based on your needs, we will provide the following reports:
Verbal Reports
These reports provide a quick verbal assessment of a bottle’s authenticity, and are ideal for prepurchase authentication.
Formal Reports
These reports include a thorough inspection of each bottle, detailed findings, and conclusions of authenticity. When fraud is determined, the report outlines evidence and reasoning to support the conclusion
Authentic bottles can be entered into a blockchain system that ensures secure, tamper-proof storage of each bottle’s details and provenance for future wine valuation.
Wine Fraud
Wine fraud is a fundamental problem in the wine world. Wine producers spend tremendous resources to build their brands and their relationships with consumers. Counterfeits infringe on intellectual property rights, damaging producer reputation and consumer trust.
Counterfeit wines include imitations or adulterations of legitimate products. These practices can involve bottle refilling and falsification of a producer’s packaging. Fake wine can drastically effect the integrity of your collection and overall wine valuation.
Wine counterfeiters do not follow food and beverage regulations. They could be created in unsanitary conditions and could contain toxic ingredients that pose serious health risks.
Price — If the price is too good to be true, beware.
Packaging — If the capsule, label, cork and fill do not match, beware.
Provenance — If the wine’s history has a tall tale, beware.
Build Your Collection With Confidence
Ask Questions
If you are buying wine outside of your trusted sources, do some research on the reputation of the seller. Online sellers may not post clear pictures of the bottle. Contact them and ask for better images and provenance.
House Rules
If you are buying from an auction house or reseller, read the fine print about their terms and conditions such as guarantee of authenticity and return/refund policies.
Records
Your purchase receipts are valuable and provide provenance for your collection.
If you are buying wine outside of your trusted sources, do some research on the reputation of the seller. Online sellers may not post clear pictures of the bottle. Contact them and ask for better images and provenance.
House Rules
If you are buying from an auction house or reseller, read the fine print about their terms and conditions such as guarantee of authenticity and return/refund policies.
Records
Your purchase receipts are valuable and provide provenance for your collection.
Passion Aside
Most collectors say they have an emotional connection to their wine. So it is not surprising that the investment world refers to wine as a “passion asset”. But approach collecting rationally and with caution. Counterfeit or bottles in poor condition can signficantly reduce the value of your portfolio.
Burden of Proof
Today, there is so much wine that is traded on the gray or secondary markets through auction houses and resellers. These are great sources to find rare or sought-after bottles. Generally, though, the purchaser assumes the burden of determining a wine’s condition and authenticity.
Most collectors say they have an emotional connection to their wine. So it is not surprising that the investment world refers to wine as a “passion asset”. But approach collecting rationally and with caution. Counterfeit or bottles in poor condition can signficantly reduce the value of your portfolio.
Burden of Proof
Today, there is so much wine that is traded on the gray or secondary markets through auction houses and resellers. These are great sources to find rare or sought-after bottles. Generally, though, the purchaser assumes the burden of determining a wine’s condition and authenticity.
Poor Storage
Don’t pay for bad storage. You can often assess conditions from a physical examination of bottles stored at the location. An expert can help you determine whether the bottles exhibit signs of poor storage.
Counterfeit Wine
Before investing in a bottle that you’ve been coveting, take some time to ask questions about the seller’s history and the wine’s provenance. Does the seller have a story to tell? Does the bottle have a story to tell? You can better interpret that story via a physical inspection by an experienced authenticator.
Don’t pay for bad storage. You can often assess conditions from a physical examination of bottles stored at the location. An expert can help you determine whether the bottles exhibit signs of poor storage.
Counterfeit Wine
Before investing in a bottle that you’ve been coveting, take some time to ask questions about the seller’s history and the wine’s provenance. Does the seller have a story to tell? Does the bottle have a story to tell? You can better interpret that story via a physical inspection by an experienced authenticator.
Carol Cohen, DipWSET
Prior to specializing in wine valuation, cellar management, and authentication, Carol built a dynamic career that bridges the fields of journalism, culinary arts, and wine expertise. Her specialization in wine began when she cut her teeth as a copywriter for the Wine Enthusiast. She subsequently earned a Diploma in Wine from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). This fueled her fascination with wine fraud and authentication, leading her to study under world renowned expert Maureen Downey.
As a certified wine authenticator, Carol applies forensic skills developed alongside Downey and her elite team. She also manages private wine collections and specializes in USPAP-compliant wine valuation for insurance, donations, estate purposes, and asset distribution, making her an invaluable resource in the world of fine wine.
After earning her B.A. in Journalism from Purchase College, Carol refined her palette at the French Culinary Institute in New York. Her time there launched her initial culinary career, which focused on research and recipe development for prestigious names like Martha Stewart Television and Kraft Foods.
914.589.8582