I stopped drinking zinfandel a long time ago. Simply lost my desire to buy it, drink it, etc. Now I’ve got about 2 cases of pretty good zin that I’d like to unload. One option is to simply give it away to friends. This could take a while. Another option is to find a retailer who would purchase the wine outright.
Has anyone ever gone through this process before? What are my best alternatives? My goal is to unload the wine quickly but also maximize cash flow.
Unload quickly and maximize cash flow are (usually) opposites.
I’d try Commerce Corner. Piece of cake. Just price it to go and it will go…
You don’t say where you are, but in terms of the wine you have, Zinfandel isn’t very highly desired in the secondary market these days. Even if a retailer was legally allowed to buy the wine from you, you should expect that they will pay you much less than normal retail price of the wine.
Bruce
You are not going to get much of anything for it. Keep it and your taste for it may very well come around again. These things happen.
You could try to sell it if it’s the type of zin that has demand in the secondary market (Turley, Ridge, Carlisle, Martinelli, Williams-Selyem, and vintages that aren’t over the hill).
Otherwise, you’re probably better off just making gifts, serving it when you have parties (zin usually goes over very well, and it’s particularly well suited to summer barbeques), giving it to me, etc.
Or, crossing over to the wine tasting event thread, how about throwing a zinfandel tasting party for your non wine geek friends and neighbors? Invite a dozen friends over, open a dozen zins, have everyone try them and all?
What he said!
I’m in the SF Bay Area.
I’m not in the area… but TONS of board folks here are.
if you threw a Zin themed offline/party and popped 12 bottles, you probably would make quite a few new acquaintances/friends from here.
now… whether you WANT that or not is entirely debatable… 
Sell it in commerce corner as two cases of everyday drinking zins. Place a super realistically cheap price on it and sell to locals. Maybe something like $100 a case (sorry, not knowing what you have) There is no market for most zins other than some some esoteric and rare bottles as Chris mentioned above.
Good luck!
Seriously, there are a bunch of boneheads here that will probably buy just about any old bottle, if the price is right.
Email me. Depending what you have, I might take some.
Cook with it. It’s still winter, make a stew.
Distill it and establish a boutique, SF-based luxury brandy label.
Ian, he didn’t want to lose more money on it.
Was the wine good in the first place? Is the wine still good? Stored reasonably well?
If it’s something like Ravenswood Vinters that you can get for $9 a bottle, cook with it. Nobody will buy that on the secondary market.
Otherwise, send it all to me. On your taxes, figure out a way to say you took a loss on an investment or something.
The stress you’re putting yourself through by worrying about having wine that you don’t like any more is likely to shorten your life. I’m here to help add years to your life. It’s not only about money - it’s about life itself. So don’t worry about the loss, just send those bottles to me.
Donate it to a school auction and take a tax write-off.
Unfortunately the parents at my children’s school don’t drink much. I’d hate to see a fine bottle of 2003 Martinelli Jackass go to a, umm, er, jack*ss who can’t appreciate it.
Long story short, I found a retailer who is going to take the wine.
Congratulations – If you don’t mind my asking, what kind of wine are you going to buy with the proceeds?
Right now I’m really enjoying St. Emilion and CDP wines. Angelus, Troplong Mondot, the Pavies, Beausejour Duffau to name a few. Had a '90 Angelus recently that knocked my socks off. Also really liking Pegau, Vieux Telegraphe and Beaucastel. Always looking for great “under the radar” cali cabs too.
Is Pablo Sancho your real name?