Pre-Arrival vs. On-Hand: What Fine Wine Buyers Need to Know

Jun 7, 2025by David Bachus

TL;DR:
“Pre-arrival” means the wine isn’t in stock - it hasn’t been received, inspected, or confirmed by the seller. It may be part of a recent allocation, a futures purchase, or sourced through a B2B trading platform like Liv-ex.

In many cases, the retailer hasn’t even purchased the wine yet - they’ll only secure it after you place your order. Delivery can take weeks or even months, and since the wine hasn’t passed through the seller’s hands, it hasn’t been physically checked for fill levels, label condition, or storage history. You may also be responsible for unexpected costs like import duties or tariffs, especially if the wine is shipped from overseas or arrives in bond.

“On-Hand” means the wine is physically stored, verified, and ready to ship. At Weekend Wine, every bottle we sell is on-hand and rigorously inspected because when you're spending serious money, you deserve certainty.

What Does "Pre-Arrival" Really Mean?

You’ll often see disclaimers like:

“Ships approximately 3–4 months after purchase. All sales are final.”

That’s a pre-arrival listing, and here’s what it means:

The retailer does not currently have the wine in their possession. Instead, the wine may be:

  • Part of a futures or en primeur purchase still awaiting bottling or release.

  • A recently secured allocation from a winery or négociant.

  • Being sourced through a global B2B exchange like Liv-ex, where merchants trade wine that is stored in bonded warehouses.

In all cases, the wine is not yet available for shipment, and the timeline for delivery is uncertain - typically weeks to several months, depending on the source.

What Is Liv-ex?

Let’s clarify: Liv-ex is not a retailer.

It’s a global exchange where licensed wine merchants buy and sell with each other. Liv-ex provides trusted pricing data, logistics, and settlement services to support secure, professional trading. It plays a key role in the global fine wine market.

Retailers who integrate with Liv-ex can list wines available across the merchant network - but many of these wines haven’t yet been purchased or received. In these cases, the retailer will only acquire the wine after a customer places an order.

That’s where the term “pre-arrival” comes in. The wine is not in stock, has not been inspected, and may still be in bond or overseas. Delivery can take weeks to months, and customers are often responsible for import duties or tariffs. Most sales are also final, with limited recourse if something arrives late or in unexpected condition.

The Risks of Buying Pre-Arrival Wine

While Liv-ex and allocations are legitimate sources, buying wine that hasn’t arrived yet exposes you to several risks:

  • Delayed delivery – You could wait 3–6 months or more, especially for futures or overseas allocations.

  • No condition check – The seller can’t confirm label, capsule, or fill level until the wine arrives.

  • No returns – Most pre-arrival purchases are final sale, with no recourse if something goes wrong.

  • Unexpected costs – Wines shipped from abroad may be subject to import duties or tariffs.

In short: you’re paying today for wine that might arrive in good condition months from now. That’s a big gamble, especially for collectible or investment-grade bottles.

Why On-Hand Wine Is Better

There’s nothing wrong with platforms like Liv-ex - they're widely used in the trade, and many trusted retailers use them to source or sell wine. But when you’re buying high-end bottles, you deserve to know whether the wine is physically in-hand, or still in the pipeline.

That’s why at Weekend Wine, we only list wines that are:

  • On-hand in our secure, climate-controlled cellar in Washington, DC

  • Inspected by us for label condition, capsule integrity, and fill level

  • Photographed and documented - provenance and storage history available

  • Ready to ship or hold - no 3-month wait, no speculation

When you buy from us, you know exactly what you're getting, when you’re getting it, and where it’s been.

Why Some Retailers Still Offer Pre-Arrival

Retailers use pre-arrival listings to broaden their virtual inventory. By integrating with platforms like Liv-ex or pre-selling future allocations, they can offer a vast catalog without holding physical stock.

But when it comes to fine wine - where provenance, condition, and delivery timing are everything - you should know whether the bottle exists in the seller’s hands or not.

Bottom Line

If you’re buying a bottle of DRC, Lafite, or Screaming Eagle, you’re not just buying wine - you’re buying trust.

Pre-arrival listings may look tempting, but the fine print tells another story. Before you commit, ask yourself:

  • Is the wine actually in stock, or are you just hoping it arrives?

At Weekend Wine, everything we sell is real, in-hand, and ready for delivery or storage. No wishful sourcing. No month-long waits. No fine print.

👉 Join our VIP List for first dibs on rare, on-hand bottles - verified, photographed, and ready to drink or cellar!
Back to Decanter Diary