Services | Assessment Evaluation Appraisals

Authentication
With so many fake wines in the market, and more being released onto the public every year by unscrupulous vendors, you need a professional on whom you can rely. Maureen Downey is a recognized expert in wine authentication demonstrated by her experience, as well as press accounts, and auction houses, sommeliers and other professionals who request her opinion on a regular basis. She will inspect and determine the authenticity of bottles in your existing inventory, prepare reports with findings and when necessary contact pertinent parties in order to attain retribution. If you are considering purchasing, she can inspect auction lots or retail offerings prior to purchase to ensure veracity of bottles and reported storage history.

"Keen, experienced, and methodic is how I describe Maureen Downey’s approach to wine authentication. Downey’s knowledge and experience have served as an invaluable tool in identifying questionable, highly collectible, often older, wine bottles I purchased. Based on her findings, I was able to return bottles I had purchased or intended to purchase. I highly recommend her service as a wine professional!" James Grandison, San Francisco, CA

Physical Inspection & Cataloging
Our professionals make notation of individual bottle conditions including ullage, color, cork, capsule, neck tag and label conditions which affect consumption time-frame and individual bottle value. Collectors will be provided with a cataloging report showing individual bottle conditions and professional opinions on consumption timelines.

Valuation
Following physical inventory, or based on a provided inventory list, our professionals provide current market valuation of individual bottles, taking physical condition into account. Valuations can be replacement or current auction market value.
Appraisals
Appraisals for insurance and estate needs, personal edification, and charity events can be provided with submission of an inventory list.