Fine Wine Collection Services for Every Stage of Ownership

Chai Consulting offers professional wine services that cover the complete wine collection lifecycle, from authentication and inventory management to sourcing, appraisal, and sale. Based in the Bay Area and working with clients across the United States, Europe, and Asia, our independent fine wine advisory practice gives collectors, estates, family offices, and institutions a single, conflict-free resource for every decision a valuable collection demands.

Bay Area Fine Wine Advisory, Serving Clients Worldwide

One Practice. Every Stage of Your Collection.

Managing a fine wine collection well means making sound decisions at every turn: knowing what you own, understanding its condition and value, sourcing thoughtfully, and selling at the right time through the right channel. Chai Consulting was founded in 2005 by Maureen Downey, DipWSET and CWE, to provide exactly that kind of coordinated guidance. Our wine management solutions are not tied to owned inventory or an auction-house affiliation. Every recommendation follows your collection, your goals, and your timeline. Whether you are organizing a cellar for the first time or managing a multi-location portfolio worth millions, our team brings the same disciplined, discreet approach to your situation.

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TCM® Wine Authentication

Evaluate provenance, condition, production consistency, and authenticity concerns using Chai Consulting’s proprietary TCM® methodology.

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Seminars & Training

Build practical knowledge of wine authentication, provenance, counterfeit detection, and fraud awareness through specialist-led education.

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Wine Collection Management

Organize, catalog, track, and manage fine wine collections with expert guidance tailored to the owner’s tastes, goals, and locations.

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Wine Sourcing

Source fine and rare wines, hard-to-find bottles, and everyday selections through independent guidance shaped by collection goals.

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Wine Collection Liquidation

Navigate full- or partial-collection sales with discreet assessment, preparation, market knowledge, and independent guidance.

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Fine Wine Appraisals

Establish a defensible understanding of wine and spirits value for insurance, estates, tax, donation, litigation, loss, and planning.

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Expert Witness Services

Provide specialized analysis and professional opinions for matters involving authenticity, fraud, valuation, loss, damage, and disputes.