Frequently Asked Questions
About Us
Why use NYWA?
New York Wine Auctions is an industry-led auction platform built with Leon & Son’s POV on wine—bringing the world’s great wines alongside the hardest-to-find new names. Because auction isn’t our core business, we list with intention: only bottles we’re genuinely excited to place in new homes, with fees meaningfully lower than you’ll find at traditional auctions. Our platform makes it easy to connect verified buyers and sellers through a secure and reliable system.
By registering an account with New York Wine Auctions, buyers will be able to browse upcoming auctions and place bids.
How does it work?
Interested consignors give the items they want to sell to NYWA and once the items are sold in an online auction to the highest bidder, the profits are sent to the selling party. Anyone over the age of 21 can create an account with NYWA to place a bid on any consigned item during an online auction. When the auction ends, the highest bidder wins the item and is notified by email and charged according to our payment terms.
How long do your auctions last?
Unless otherwise specified, our online auctions run for 7-days or 14-days. During this time, any authorized buyer may place a bid for any listed item during the active auction period. To be the first to know about upcoming auction dates, sign up for our email newsletter.
How do I know what will be listed in the next auction?
Our site will constantly be listing new items a week before a live auction is scheduled. Check our new site for new listings or follow us on Instagram at @newyorkwineauctions to see sneak previews.
I’m unsure about an item (condition, etc.). What can I do?
If you have any questions regarding an item during an auction, you can contact us via email at vanessa@newyorkwineauctions.com for additional details / photos.
Selling with us
How do I sell with NYWA?
Thanks for your interest in selling some of your collection with us! We first have to review the list of items you’re interested in selling at auction, this begins by submitting an interested Consignment Seller’s form with your personal information and wine list (including wine name, vintage, size, quantity of bottles, purchase history, and storage history). From there, our team will reach out with a free appraisal and price estimate for your listed items reflective of the current and dynamic wine market. If all looks good and reserve prices are agreed upon, we’ll go ahead and provide a Consignment Agreement for you to sign and start the process of acquiring your wines.
Please note, it may take up to 2-3 weeks for your items to be listed in an auction from the moment they arrive to us, this takes into account the time needed for intake, bottle inspection, photography, and auction timelines. We’ll notify you once your items are ready to be listed for a scheduled auction. NYWA reserves the right to decline and reject certain offers. Consignment through NYWA is subject to our terms and conditions.
Is there a limit to the number of bottles I can sell?
No limit! We welcome any size collection.
Do I need to send in my wine to NYWA for it to be sold at auction?
Yes. Auction laws require New York Wine Auctions to physically take possession of all items offered for sale in an auction. NYWA will not offer any item(s) on an online auction without prior possession. To be able to consign, you must physically give the item(s) you want to sell to NYWA and once sold, the profits will be sent to the consignor.
What is a Commission Fee?
This is a fee charged to the consignor by NYWA for providing our services, usually a percentage of the final selling price of the wine established by the listing agreement prior to the auction. For more information regarding our commission fee, email us at info@newyorkwineauctions.com.
What is a Reserve Price?
A reserve price is the minimum price that a seller is willing to accept for an item to be sold at auction.
Can I set my own Reserve Price?
Yes. You can set your own reserve price during the appraisal process. During our initial appraisal, we’ll provide a recommended reserve price based on the dynamic wine market which you can decline for your own. We advise not setting a reserve price too high as this may deter bids.
How do I get my wine to you?
Once a Consignment Agreement has been signed, consignors are responsible for insuring and delivering their wines to our Brooklyn, NY warehouse.
Consignors may:
- Ship their wines to NYWA using a third-party carrier of their choice (e.g., UPS, FedEx, DHL, or other licensed providers), or
- Deliver their collection in person by appointment only.
Until wines are received and formally accepted at our facility, all responsibility for packing, insurance, and transit remains with the consignor. Wines must arrive in proper, saleable condition consistent with auction standards. Any wines received in unacceptable condition may be rejected upon inspection and will remain the responsibility of the consignor, including arranging return pickup or re-shipment at their own expense.
At the consignor’s request, we can provide shipping labels through our primary carrier (currently FedEx), along with appropriate packing materials. Any associated costs to transfer your wines to our warehouse will be deducted from the final settlement following the successful sale of the consignment.
Any additional questions on how to get your wines to us, email us at info@newyorkwineauctions.com.
What if my wines didn’t sell after the auction was closed?
If your wines didn’t sell on their first auction, they’ll automatically be rolled-over to the next scheduled auction and so forth.
If a specific wine hasn’t sold after an auction closes, you may contact us to retrieve the wine before it’s rolled over to the next scheduled live auction. Any returns are subject to the sellers expense to pick-up or ship via our preferred carrier (FedEx) for an additional fee.
How do I get my payout?
Seller payouts are processed after successful completion of the auction and buyer payment clearance, minus commission and applicable fees. Once an auction has closed, payout invoices will be sent to the email address listed on your selling account and a mailed check will be sent within 30 days of the winning bid.
The Consignment Agreement confirms your personal information and address prior to an auction. If an auction closes and you need to update the information on file, email us at info@newyorkwineauctions.com.
Buying & bidding
How do I place a bid?
Only approved buyers may place a bid through New York Wine Auctions. To become an approved bidder, you must create an account with NYWA and provide a valid email address and authorized credit card.
You may see a small pre-authorization charge when you create an account with NYWA. This temporary hold is placed on your accounts listed credit card for validation and ensures sufficient funds are available. The pre-authorization hold may take up to 3 business days to clear. Once both email and credit card are validated, you’ll be ready to place your first bid!
Remember all bids are final.
What is your buyer's premium?
Our buyer's premium is 14.5% plus applicable New York State tax.
Is my payment information secure?
Yes. Payments are processed securely through Stripe using encrypted technology. We do not store full credit card information.
Are bids/sales final?
Due to the nature of fine and aged wines, all sales are final. Each lot is sold as described.
What are the bidding increments for items?
Bidding increments are determined by the set reserve price (this is the minimum price that a seller is willing to accept for an item to be sold at auction). For example, if a bottle’s reserve price is set below $99, then the bidding increment to the next whole dollar will be $1. If the reserve price is set above $100 but below $299, then the bidding increment will be $10. Bids in decimal won’t be accepted. Our bidding increment table is below,
$1–$99 → $1
$100–$299 → $10
$300–$499 → $20
$500–$999 → $50
$1,000–$2,999 → $100
$3,000–$4,999 → $200
$5,000–$10,000 → $500
$10,000–$20,000 → $1,000
$20,000+ → $2,000.
What is extended bidding?
We offer a grace window for extended bidding in the final three minutes after an auction is set to conclude.
Any bids placed from 7:57pm-8pm EST will extend the bidding window for 30 seconds past 8pm. Every new bid resets the clock for another 30 seconds—until no new bids are received within the window, or until 10 bids have been placed after close (whichever occurs sooner).
How does bidding work for lots with multiple bottles?”
For lots containing multiple bottles, there can only be one winning bid price per bottle across the entire lot. Bidders can enter both a price per unit and the quantity they’d like to purchase, but all bids still compete together at a single price level.
Lots cannot be split into different pricing tiers for multiple bidders. If any bottles remain unallocated, they may be offered again in a subsequent auction.
I’m the highest bidder for an auction that just closed, how do I pay for my bottle(s)?
Congrats on winning a bid! Following a closed auction, you’ll receive a confirmation email once an auction has ended and we’ll automatically charge the card on file (this may take up to 1-3 business days).
As shipping is a separate expense, the confirmation email will ask you to select your preferred shipping method. If we don’t hear from you within 14-days after an auction closes, your bottle(s) will be placed in auto-storage for a monthly fee of $1/bottle until we receive shipping instructions from you.
Why was I charged New York Sales tax if I live in another state?
Title to, and ownership of, all alcoholic beverages passes from New York Wine Auctions to the buyer in the State of New York, which is why New York sales tax is charged on your order.
What happens if payment is not completed?
Bids constitute a binding commitment. Failure for payment may result in cancellation of the sale and account suspension.
Shipping & Storage
Can I pick up my wine?
Yes, you can arrange to pick up your wines at our Leon & Son Wine retail store within 14-days after an auction closes. After the 14-days, you’ll be automatically charged a $1/bottle fee billed monthly for storage at our temperature-controlled warehouse.
To arrange in-store pickup, go to your Activity page, select your item(s), and click ‘Ship.’ You can then choose the free in-store pickup option during checkout.
Do you ship to my location?
All shipping arrangements will be facilitated through Leon & Son Wine and Spirits, which ships nationwide, except for the following states:
Alabama, Delaware, Maine, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Utah.
We do not facilitate international shipping.
By arranging for transportation of your order, Leon & Son Wine is providing a service and engaging a common carrier (FedEx) on you/the buyer's behalf. In utilizing this service from Leon & Son Wine, you acknowledge and recognize the responsibility for complying with local regulations or tax requirements rests solely with the buyer. Buyers hereby agree to take sole responsibility for complying with all laws regarding importation of alcohol into your state. To review Leon & Son’s shipping terms, click here.
All shipments require a 21+ adult signature upon delivery.
Do you ship internationally?
We do not ship outside of the United States.
Buyers who wish to ship their purchases internationally are welcome to arrange shipping independently. If you choose to do so, you will need to coordinate directly with a third-party shipping provider and arrange for them to pick up the wine from our warehouse location. Once the carrier and pickup details are confirmed, we will work with your shipping provider to release your order.
Please note that all shipping arrangements, documentation, costs, and compliance with international import regulations are the responsibility of the buyer and their chosen shipping provider. Upon release to the carrier, New York Wine Auctions is not responsible for any shipping claims, delays, loss, or damage that may occur during transit.
How do I arrange shipping?
After an auction closes, you must make shipping arrangements for your order within 14 days of an auction closing. When you receive your order confirmation, shipping options will be available to choose (Ground or Expedited services). If we do not hear from you or receive shipping confirmation, your items will be automatically placed in storage after the 14-day grace period and you will be automatically charged a $1/bottle monthly fee for storage within our facilities. To coordinate shipping any items placed in storage, contact us at info@newyorkwineauctions.com to proceed with shipping options or navigate to your Activity page, select your item(s), and click ‘Ship.’
By placing a bid on NYWA, you agree to our terms and conditions detailing shipping and storage arrangements. Buyers are solely responsible for complying with all applicable state and local alcohol shipping laws.
How do you ship the wine?
We use molded pulp wine inserts which are 100% recyclable.
How much does it cost to ship my wine?
Shipping rates will be quoted at the time of checkout and are based on the dynamic prices based on bottle quantity, weight, and distance.
Can I ship some of my wines & store the rest?
Wines can be shipped individually through your account. To arrange shipping, navigate to your Activity page, select the item(s) you’d like to ship, and click ‘Ship.’ You’ll be prompted to complete checkout, where you can confirm or edit your shipping address, choose your preferred shipping method, and pay the applicable shipping charges. Once your order is confirmed, tracking information will be sent for the selected items.
Any items left unselected fourteen (14) days after the close of any auction will automatically move to storage and will be charged a monthly storage fee of $1/bottle until a shipping selection is made.
How does NYWA storage work?
NYWA provides secure, temperature-controlled cellar storage for all purchases made on our platform for a monthly subscription fee of $1 per bottle. If shipping arrangements have not been made within 14 days of an auction closing, your wine will automatically be transferred to our storage, and the $1 per bottle monthly storage fee will be charged to the card on file until we receive instructions to arrange shipping or approved pickup.
Can you place my wine in storage during the hot or cold weather?
Yes! To protect your wine during periods of extreme weather (hot or freezing temperatures), orders may be placed in our climate-controlled cellar storage and enrolled in our $1 per bottle monthly storage subscription, until safe shipping conditions are available or until you request shipment.
We recommend shipping wine only when temperatures are consistently between 25°F and 80°F at both the shipping origin and the delivery destination.
