Field Tool · Version 1.0 — 2026
The 20-Point Fine Wine
Provenance Scorecard
Score the bottle before discussing price. The score tells you how much of the price is evidence — and how much is story.
Why score a bottle at all?
A bottle can have the right producer, the right vintage and the right format — and still be the wrong bottle if its history cannot be reconstructed. In rare wine, the label states a claim; provenance is the evidence behind it. The scorecard compresses that evidence into a number, so the conversation about price can start from what is documented rather than what is asserted.
A rare bottle without custody is just a story.
The five dimensions
| Dimension | What earns the points | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle identity | Label, capsule, cork and glass fully consistent with the producer’s release (5). Minor unverifiable detail (3–4). Any element inconsistent or unverifiable (0–2). | 0–5 |
| Storage | Professional bonded storage since release, warehouse(s) named (5). Professional storage for most of its life, minor gaps explained (3–4). Domestic or unknown storage for meaningful periods (0–2). | 0–5 |
| Custody | Every transfer since release documented; one or two owners (5). Chain reconstructable with small gaps (3–4). Story-based custody, undocumented owners (0–2). | 0–5 |
| Condition | Fill, capsule and label all appropriate for age (3). One cosmetic doubt (2). Condition issues needing explanation (0–1). Field guide: reading the bottle → | 0–3 |
| Release channel | In-bond, warehouse-to-warehouse, physically verified stock (2). Duty-paid but professionally shipped and insured (1). Bottle leaves professional custody unverified (0). | 0–2 |
Score a bottle now
The same five dimensions, scored here. Nothing is sent anywhere: the tool runs entirely in your browser, and the result lives only in the address bar — which is also how you share it.
Bottle identity
Label, capsule, cork and glass fully consistent with the producer’s release (5). Minor unverifiable detail (3–4). Any element inconsistent or unverifiable (0–2).
Storage
Professional bonded storage since release, warehouse(s) named (5). Professional storage for most of its life, minor gaps explained (3–4). Domestic or unknown storage for meaningful periods (0–2).
Custody
Every transfer since release documented; one or two owners (5). Chain reconstructable with small gaps (3–4). Story-based custody, undocumented owners (0–2).
Condition
Fill, capsule and label all appropriate for age (3). One cosmetic doubt (2). Condition issues needing explanation (0–1). Field guide: reading the bottle →
Release channel
In-bond, warehouse-to-warehouse, physically verified stock (2). Duty-paid but professionally shipped and insured (1). Bottle leaves professional custody unverified (0).
No dimension scored yet.
0 / 20
An unscored dimension is not a zero. The reading appears once all five are answered.
Reading the score
17–20 — Evidence. The bottle’s history is a record. Price the wine, not the risk.
12–16 — Diligence. Buyable, with questions asked and answers in writing. The gaps should be reflected in the price.
Below 12 — Story. Whatever the label says, you are buying a narrative. Walk away, or price it as the gamble it is.
Common questions
What is the 20-point fine wine provenance scorecard?
A free field tool created by The Empty Drops for evaluating a rare bottle before purchase. It assigns up to 5 points each for bottle identity, storage and custody, up to 3 for condition, and up to 2 for the release channel, producing a score out of 20 that indicates how much of the bottle's price is supported by evidence rather than narrative.
How do you interpret a provenance score?
17–20 means the bottle's history is a documented record: price the wine, not the risk. 12–16 means buyable with diligence: ask the open questions and get answers in writing, with gaps reflected in the price. Below 12 means the buyer is purchasing a story rather than a record: walk away, or price it as the gamble it is.
Does a high provenance score guarantee the wine is in perfect condition?
No. A perfect score cannot rule out cork taint (TCA), which is a bottle-level fault no custody prevents, and no scorecard replaces physical inspection by someone who knows the producer's packaging. The score measures evidence, not certainty, and the scorecard is an educational tool — it does not authenticate bottles, guarantee condition or constitute investment advice.
Two honest limits
A perfect score cannot rule out cork taint, which is a bottle-level lottery no custody prevents. And no scorecard replaces physical inspection by someone who knows the producer’s packaging. The score measures evidence, not certainty.
For the questions behind each dimension, use the field checklist in the provenance guide. For the vocabulary, the custody glossary.
This scorecard is an educational tool. It does not authenticate bottles, guarantee condition or constitute investment advice. Version 1.0 — 2026. Free to share with attribution.