Wine auction site Grape Pip donates charitable proceeds to Benevolent

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 29 September, 2014

Grape Pip, an online wine auction website, has named drinks trade charity the Benevolent as the first recipient of its charity fundraising efforts.

Grape Pip was founded last year by husband and wife team Caspar and Victoria Bowes - they say it has "surpassed expectations" trading over 300 lots with the most expensive selling for £7,000.

Caspar Bowes said: "Over my years in the wine trade, I find that superfluous stock can be a real issue for both private collectors and fine wine traders alike. The question of what to do with such wines has to date resulted in bin end sales or giveaways or worse still, the destruction of wine well past its best."

Grape Pip's charity category works by offering traders with "overstocked cellars" the chance to turn their wines into charitable donations.

David Cox, chief executive of the Benevolent, said: "Grape Pip's lots for charity initiative is a wonderful example of how members of the wine trade can make the most of their unneeded resources whilst supporting those from our community in real need of help."

Lots currently listed on the site include a six-bottle case of 2000 Chateau Rauzan Segla for £380. Under the Lots for Charity section it currently has 18 listings, including 10 bottles of Albert Boxler 2004 Gewurtztraminer from Alsace at £200.

The site says it sells online wines of "perfect provenance", although the exact source of the wine is anonymous. All traders and merchants must pass strict approval criteria in order to be allowed to list lots. They are also required to provide provenance verification documents on demand.

The site offers both bin ends and mature fine wines and guarantees that the wine has only ever been professionally stored in a UK bonded warehouse since shipment. Its commission rates are 5% for buyers, 5% for private vendors and 10% for trade vendors.

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