Can I sell champagne?

[Bellini12]

My DH works in a job whereby he gets the odd gift. Over the years he has been given endless bottles of champagne. Unfortunately we are foodies but not much into alcohol. We've given some away and saved the odd one for a special occasion but we still have lots of bottles of very expensive, boxed vintage champagne left.

Is there anyway I can sell this? I know you need a license to sell alcohol but would it be different if it was the odd bottle being sold?

It is such a standard, unoriginal gift to give especially if you don't particularly like the stuff! I keep thinking some of these bottles must be £100+ and I'd rather have the dosh to have a nice family day out!

[Mandy2003]

Local auctioneer?

[LaurieFairyCake]

They sell it on EBay.

I've a 15 year old bottle I might sell - actually it's 25, as it was 10 years old when I got it.

[PersilOrAriel]

How has it been stored? Fine wines need careful storage and champagne particularly so. Where have they been? If in the house they will have been subjected to fluctuations of temperature which over a period of time can spoil it.

[StealthPolarBear]

Good question - how can they legally sell it on eBay?

[springlamb]

Do be careful that its still good.
We decided to use up the last bottle of champagne from our wedding (1992) at Xmas.
It was fecking awful and embarrassing.
I suspect the points that Persil made were responsible.
Now after my dad died, when we scattered his ashes, we decided to drink the bottle of champagne that had been in his fridge for 25 years that we could recall. It was beautiful.
It's weird stuff that champagne.

[Bellini12]

Hmmm good point about the storage.. They have always been kept in the garage (most are boxed). That would be awful if they tasted dreadful. We have 1998/1999/2003 all different makes, defo the posh ones.

What do I do? Am thinking just passing them into family if I can't risk the quality. Such a waste of money though!

I checked and there was no alcohol for sale on eBay. Am I missing something?

[Thebluedog]

I've bought cases if champagne on eBay

[souperb]

I thought on eBay there had to be some nonsense about advertising the corks/labels and then a nod and a wink that there were full bottles attached? I sold a big bag of (just bloody) corks a few years ago and was beseiged by potential buyers wanting to know what sorts of bottles were "attached" to the corks. It got very boring.

[Bellini12]

I can't see any bottles for sale on eBay! I've only seen empty bottles and their box (who would buy this?!).

All are advertised as 'empty'.

I'm really quite stumped. Please tell me how you purchased your champagne the blue dog

[springlamb]

Souperb, I'm not really au fait with eBay.
If I bid on, say a man's jacket, should I then message the seller for a description of the man attached, with appropriate nudges and winks.
My luck it will only be another skinny bald one who won't earn truckloads of money as that would 'compromise the art man innit'.
I have an empty bottle of Orient Express chardonnay label stained with candlewax. Will that sell?

[souperb]

springlamb I agree it sounds stupid, but I was genuinely beseiged by so many people asking about the "full bottles attached" that there must have been some sort of known wheedle around the rules at the time. Please do list your empty bottle for sale, and stand your ground when/if the buyer complains the booze is missing! If I had a bottle knocking about, I would do it myself, but I probably need to get out more.