DE PAOLIS
WINE CONSULTANCY
Independent, expert advice for wine collectors and enthusiasts
Private cellar management and consultancy, from collection maintenance and inventory reporting to sourcing and selling everyday and rare wines.
Our Services
Portfolio Management
We offer both long-term consultancy and one-off portfolio assessments, providing advice on maintaining a balanced cellar, tailored to your taste, lifestyle and long-term objectives.
Our services include ongoing inventory management for bonded and duty paid stock, valuation and regular reporting, stock reconciliations, home stock checks and cellar organisation. Reporting includes market values, drinking windows, cellar locations, wine scores and, where possible, relevant purchase history and return on investment.
Buying
Whether you are building a collection from the ground up or refining an established cellar, we offer independent advice and bespoke sourcing tailored to your needs. In addition to identifying potential gaps in your collection, we are able to source and purchase any wines on your behalf - from everyday drinking to special occasions or investment.
Our long-standing relationships with trusted and reputable suppliers enables us to give clients access to exceptional and often rare wines before they reach the wider market. We ensure our clients are buying at competitive prices and with excellent provenance. As a completely independent business, our advice is entirely unbiased and guided solely by our clients’ best interests.
Selling
Regular reporting on your collection enables us to identify areas requiring attention, whether it be gaps to be filled, highlighting wines that have reached their optimal drinking window or fine-tuning the overall balance of your cellar while retaining its integrity. When it’s time to refine your collection, we help you sell wines, both duty paid and under bond, to achieve the best possible return.
Using a range of trusted channels, including trade and private client sales, auction houses and exchange broker networks, we tailor the approach to each client, collection and timeframe.
We handle every aspect of both the buying and selling processes, from transfers and invoicing to all administrative and logistical details. We also act on behalf of ad hoc buyers and sellers.
About us
De Paolis Limited was founded by Susie De Paolis. After a successful career at City Wine Merchants Corney & Barrow, Susie co-founded John Armit Wines in the 1980s, where she oversaw purchasing, investment advice and client management. In 2001, she established her own consultancy business which grew over the next two decades into the successful business it is today.
Francesca De Paolis joined the business in 2017, bringing with her nearly a decade of experience she gained at renowned importer and trade distributor Liberty Wines. During her time there, she worked across brand management, producer relations and events while studying for her WSET Diploma. Working closely with producers throughout France and Italy, she developed a particular soft spot for Italian wines and food, reconnecting her to her roots and ultimately leading her to marry among the vineyards of Tuscany. She now runs the business along with Eleanor Williams who joined Susie in 2011 and oversees all operations and accounting. Eleanor’s meticulous attention to detail remains integral for the for the smooth running of the business.
