Selling Wine on eBay

eBay regularly changes their rules and regulations on how they handle alcohol. It's very wise to check their site for their latest and greatest information before you actually list an item. As of March 2009 their rules were:

We will permit sales of unopened collectible containers that still contain alcohol as long as each of the following conditions are met and stated verbatim in the listing:

*The value of the item is in the collectible container, not its contents.
*The container has not been opened and any incidental contents are not intended for consumption.
*The item is not available at any retail outlet, and the container has a value that substantially exceeds the current retail price of the alcohol in the container.
*The seller will take all appropriate steps to ensure that the buyer is of lawful age in the buyer and seller's jurisdiction (generally 21 years of age).
*Buyers and sellers both ensure that the sale complies with all applicable laws and shipping regulations.

eBay allows a small list of licensed and vetted sellers to participate in the sale of wine within a controlled environment on the site

If you want to regularly sell wine on eBay - you are a winery or wine shop for example, it is definitely worth your while to contact eBay and register with them. That way you get access to eBay's huge audience and can use their system to promote your wines!

So to summarize, ebay is NOT a good option if you have a bottle of 2008 Wild Horse Viognier that you don't feel like drinking and want to find a new home for it. Give that bottle to a friend. If you have a 1960 bottle of Chianti in a basket-bottle, that few people would drink but lots of people would love to display, then certainly list that on eBay. If you're a wine shop or winery and want to start using eBay as a regular sales outlet, then chat with eBay! They'll probably be quite happy to take your money (ahem) to help you get set up in their system.

Ebay Policy Page on Alcohol

Is Old Wine Safe to Drink?
How Much is my Old Wine Bottle Worth?

Selling Wine Tips and Techniques
Wine Basics Main Page