Condition Basics: What Affects Value

Why Condition Matters

Collectors and buyers pay premiums for bottles in excellent condition. Condition indicates how well a bottle has been stored and whether the contents are likely to have aged properly.

Poor condition can reduce value by fifty percent or more compared to the same bottle in pristine condition. For rare wines and spirits, condition can mean the difference between a desirable bottle and one that is difficult to sell.

Understanding condition factors helps you describe your bottles accurately and set realistic expectations.

Fill Levels

Fill level is the distance from the closure to the liquid surface. For wine, this is measured from the bottom of the cork. For spirits, from the closure or stopper.

Wine naturally loses small amounts of liquid over decades through the cork. Standard fill level terminology ranges from high fill and into neck (excellent) down to mid shoulder and low shoulder (problematic).

Low fills often indicate storage problems or a compromised cork. Buyers discount or avoid bottles with significantly low fills.

• Into neck or high fill: Excellent, expected for younger wines
• Base of neck: Normal for wines over ten years old
• Top shoulder: Acceptable for older wines, slight discount
• Mid shoulder: Significant concern, substantial discount
• Low shoulder or below: Often unsaleable

Label Condition

Label condition affects value, especially for older or collectible bottles. Buyers want labels that are legible, intact, and free from major damage.

Minor scuffing or cellar marks are normal for aged wines and have minimal impact. Significant tears, staining, or fading reduce value. Missing labels make bottles difficult to authenticate and sell.

Back labels, if present, should also be legible. For older bottles, original labels with period-appropriate printing and wear are actually preferred over suspiciously pristine labels.

• Pristine: Clean, no damage, fully legible
• Lightly scuffed: Minor wear, negligible impact
• Bin soiled: Cellar marks, acceptable for older wines
• Stained or torn: Noticeable damage, value reduction
• Missing or illegible: Significant problem

Capsules and Seals

The capsule covers the cork and closure. For wine, look for intact capsules without cuts, corrosion, or evidence of seepage. For spirits, check that seals are unbroken.

Capsule damage can indicate improper opening attempts, storage issues, or age-related deterioration. Minor wear is normal. Significant damage raises questions.

Seepage stains or sticky residue around the capsule suggest the cork has leaked at some point. This is a significant condition concern.

• Intact capsule with no cuts or damage
• No corrosion or oxidation
• No seepage stains or sticky residue
• Unbroken tax stamps or seals for spirits
• Proper closure with no signs of tampering

Original Packaging

Original wood cases (OWC), cardboard boxes, tubes, and presentation packaging add value. For some bottles, original packaging can add ten to twenty percent or more.

Keep all original packaging even if it seems damaged or unimportant. Collectors value provenance, and original packaging helps establish authenticity.

Photograph packaging clearly. Note if cases are complete with all bottles or have gaps.

Storage History

Provenance, or the documented history of storage, matters especially for older wines. Bottles stored in professional cellars or known collections are worth more than bottles of unknown origin.

Temperature stability is crucial for wine. Bottles stored in fluctuating temperatures, warm environments, or direct sunlight may have deteriorated regardless of fill level.

If you know the storage history, share it. Purchase receipts, cellar records, and storage facility documentation all help establish provenance.

• Professional cellar storage preferred
• Temperature-controlled home storage acceptable
• Documentation of purchase and storage helpful
• Unknown storage history reduces value
• Signs of heat damage or light exposure problematic