I am preparing another load of wines for auction, and took a look at the values.  I'm not certain, but it seems to me that prices have come down since December, at least for California wines.  I have a very tiny amount of data, so I'm wondering if my perceptions are accurate in the view of others here, or if I am imagining things.

 

There has been much talk of the credit crunch and its affect on the real estate market, but as far as I know no one has discussed the affect of the credit squeeze on the luxury market.

Thoughts?  Are prices coming down, or am I just seeing shadows on the wall?

I would think the dollar would have a lot to do with imported wines being quite pricey.

 

Or are we talking about wines at auction that were purchased before the dollar tanked?

 

It also doesn't make sense that California wines are cheaper....  if they are cheaper to those outside this country, you'd think they'd be purchasing more, making supply here smaller, and thus demand and prices higher. 

 

Doesn't seem like we export very much... the greedy american wine drinkers that we are. 

Lower wine prices = makes me happy haha. Anyone think they'll go up soon?

 

-Michael

My favorite squidoo lens about Celebrity Foods

same here...stuff like harlan and sloan.  they are off vintage but...

As a retailer I can tell you what is going on with us so far this year.  Sales are up both brick and mortar and online - culty collectible wines seem to be doing quite well - prices have to be very competitive to sell the super premiums like DRC and back vintage first growths.

 

Weak dollar means  we are getting a lot of overseas buyers - so that is helping

 

So far we have seen some great growth this year and haven't been hit with the economic turn down yet.

 

I have seen prices start to come down at auctions and especially to private collectors who are thinning out cellars to make up for losses elsewhere.

I have yet to actually sell any wine (other than at cost from my mailers) so take this with a grain of salt, but I have followed this subject fairly closely.  There are some CA wines that you can sell and be certain that you will at least get your money back.  Even though I think that the secondary prices for KB are about to plummet, even if they do, you won't lose money.  Alban, Aubert, Rivers-Marie, Schrader, Scarecrow, Araujo are other examples of wine that you can readily sell if need be (may not make a killing, but you won't lose money; Araujo is a little dicier). 

 

Other perfectly good (even great) wines have no secondary market safety net.  Someone mentioned that you might as well take a bath with your Pax wines if you decide that you don't like them.  I think that Radio Coteau, Peay, Bressler, Copain, Neal, Anomaly, and Realm fall into the same category.  Someone may buy the wine, but you'll be well behind after the fees.