Frequently asked questions
ARCHIVAL WINES
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Are the wines in stock?
All the wines we offer are in stock and ready to ship. Next to each of our products we show how many we have available.
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Is the wine original?
We buy all our wines from verified suppliers that we’ve been working with for many years. When putting the bottles into storage we carefully examine them to make sure of their authenticity. We assure you that all of our wines are genuine.
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What’s the condition of the labels on old wine bottles?
Preservation of the label on old wines depends on many factors, especially the manner of archiving. Many winemakers care for their bottles painstakingly, while others just let them lie around in a cellar so they get a more archival appearance. Besides the storage conditions, it also depends on the material and the quality of the label itself. You can examine the exact condition of the label on the authentic photograph provided for each of the wines we offer.
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What does the wine actually look like?
You can view all the wines in the 360-degree photographs that are provided for each of them. These are authentic photographs. When the bottles are have been stored in varying conditions all of them are photographed and you can choose from among them
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Do you also ship wine abroad?
We can send wine to places where standard delivery is available and it isn’t illegal to transport alcohol. If you want to send wine abroad contact our customer service.
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How are the wines stored?
We buy our archival wines from verified suppliers that we’ve been working with for many years, and we know that they really care about their wine. Then we store them in ideal temperature and moisture conditions. We select each bottle for our collection very carefully and it passes through our hands several times before we send it to you so we can be sure that you will only receive wines in the best condition.
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Can I send wine directly to another recipient?
Certainly! The wine is carefully packaged and the invoice is not included – we only send it by email. Definitely don’t forget about the option of including a personal greeting written on handmade paper, free of charge. If you’d like to send the wine in an unmarked box choose this option in the shopping basket (Send your package anonymously).
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What does the “Send your package anonymously” option in the shopping cart mean?
If you select this option in the shopping cart, the package will be delivered to you without visible markings of our logo or name of our e-shop (the sender’s information will only be displayed on the delivery sticker).
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How do I store the wine?
We recommend storing the bottles horizontally, in a quiet dark place, ideally with a temperature between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius without any other aromas around that might influence them (for example, fruit or potatoes). You can read more about storing wine in this article on our blog.
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How do you open archival wine?
We recommend using a special planchet opener for archival bottles.
It will help prevent the cork from crumbling and spoiling the wine. And we also suggest decanting red wines up 20 years old. You can find out how to do it in this article. -
Is archival wine suitable for drinking?
Only a winery’s best wines are put into archives. They have their exceptional taste, which is incomparable with the taste of young wines. Quality red wines from large wineries, especially Barolo or from the French Bordeaux region are always a sure bet. We are always willing to recommend a wine that will best suit a customer’s preferences. So don’t hesitate to contact us – we’ll gladly advise you on your selection.
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How long can I still archive the wine?
Most of the younger wines we offer are quite suitable for archiving. By contrast, it’s difficult to guess how long a wine older than 20 years old will still develop, and most of them will probably not improve in quality after further archiving. But whether you open your wine now or in a few months, it will definitely be an extraordinary experience. That that’s exactly what archival wines are for!
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The wine from the vintage I need isn’t in stock.
There are vintages where only a small amount of wine was preserved. We are constantly updating our stock and it’s possible that the wine you want will again be available, but we can’t guarantee it. You can set our watchdog on a product, and it will contact you if the wine is restocked.
Another option is to put together a set of wines whose age, when added up, equals the required number of years. Instead of one bottle of the originally requested vintage, you’ll be giving a collection of wines. If you buy wine from the same winery you can create your own tasting set and thereby gain the possibility of comparing different vintages. If you’re looking for some advice, don’t hesitate to contact customer service.
TRANSPORT
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How is the wine packaged for transport?
We carefully pack each bottle into a special package so it isn’t damaged on the way to you. A gift box is packed separately, but naturally it also arrives in the same shipment as the wine.
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How long will the delivery of the wine take?
You can select the delivery method in your shopping basket, and we can offer express delivery to selected localities. Find out more about delivery options here.
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How much will the delivery cost?
You’ll find out the delivery cost in the shopping basket when you select the delivery method for the address you’ve entered.
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How is the package the wine is transported in marked?
The wine is transported in a cardboard box sealed with our tape so that you’ll know that it hasn’t been tampered with along the way. If you’d rather send the package without our company logo on it, select this option in the shopping basket.
RETURNS
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Can I return the wine?
You may return the wine intact within our above-standard period of 30 days. For technical reasons it isn’t possible to return a box that had a personal message on it. The conditions for returning goods can be found here.
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What if I don’t like the wine?
Archival wines have a specific taste and it’s always necessary to expect a different experience with them than with young wines. The oldest wines in our selection belong in the hands of discerning consumers. The taste of these wines is very specific and each sip shows you a bit of history. Every bottle passes through our hands and we inspect its condition, paying particular attention to whether the cork seals properly – this is the only way that we can deliver the wine to our customers knowing that it’s in great condition. If the wine doesn’t suit your requirements, it’s possible to return it.
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My wine was delivered late.
We’re always very sorry about this situation! Even though we do everything to ensure you’re your shipment will be delivered in time, it can sometimes happen that the carrier doesn’t meet their deadline. In this case, you can refuse the shipment, or return it to us within a period of 30 days.
MISCELLANEOUS
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Is wine a good investment?
Quality archival wines are a safe investment. The demand for old wines is growing, while the supply is decreasing. Therefore, all you need to do is just to store them in a cellar and their price will grow. Quality wines with a high archiving potential are ideal because their flavors deepen and develop over the years. Wines from famous regions or wineries that are always in demand are especially suitable. While these bottles are aging in your archive, the rest of their kind are disappearing from circulation and your investment becomes a rarity. But when you decide to drink the wine anyway, its maturity will delight your taste buds. Read more in this article on our blog.
Didn’t find the answer to your question? Contact us!
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