22 Jan Auction 101: How to Bid (and Win) at Nashville Wine Auction Events

If you’ve ever wondered how the “auction” in Nashville Wine Auction works, this one is for you. 

Each year, Nashville Wine Auction welcomes both guests who are brand new to wine auctions and seasoned bidders who come ready to bid. Our organization hosts three types of auctions — Silent, Super Silent, and Live — during our two signature fundraising weekends throughout the year, each with its own style, pace, and excitement. Every dollar raised supports cancer research and patient services, so bidding does more than just give you access to truly exceptional experiences — it helps fund the fight against cancer. 

In February, you’ll have your first chance to participate in all three of these Auctions during Pairings: Solid Gold. 

On Friday, February 27, guests of Wined Up! and the Collectors’ Showcase will have the opportunity to bid in a wine-focused Silent Auction while sipping wines, indulging in heavy hor d’oeuvres and enjoying conversation with more than 32 acclaimed West Coast vintners. On Saturday, February 28, guests of the Pairings dinner will have the chance to bid on their phones in the Super Silent Auction and raise their paddles high during the Live Auction. 

Whether you participate through Mobile Bidding or during the Live Auction, there is always spirited bidding in our auction and all for a great cause! 

Silent & Super Silent Auctions

We’ll start with the quieter of the auctions (but certainly not the least exciting!). Participation in the Silent and Super Silent Auctions takes place on your phone through Mobile Bidding, which you can access if you are registered for one of the three events at Pairings or l’Eté du Vin.  If you are unable to register and attend these events, you may still participate in mobile bidding by contacting the office.

Registered? You’re halfway in! Now it’s time to wait… until early the week of your event. On Tuesday of event week, the Silent and Super Silent Auction will open on Mobile Bidding. Both Silent and Super Silent Auction bidding opens on Tuesday, February 24 for Pairings: Solid Gold. 

You’ll receive a link either via text or email to access the auction. No app download is required – just click the link. It is personalized and connected to your credit card on file, so don’t share it! Unless you want someone to bid on your dime, of course. 

Silent Auctions are named such because there is not an auctioneer calling bids from a stage. They offer wines, dinners and tastings, trips and luxury items in a variety of styles and price points. Each lot will include a package description of what you’re buying, along with photos and the exact closing time of the auction. 

Some items are available as “Buy it Now” and others remain open with active bidding until the closing bell. And that closing bell? It is rung at the event to let attendees know the bidding for the Silent Auction has closed. The Silent Auction closes at the conclusion of Wined Up! during Pairings weekend and closes at the conclusion of dinner for l’Eté du Vin weekend. 

Super Silent Auctions are an extension of the Silent Auction. They are similar and operate in the exact same way as Silent Auctions, but there is one small distinction: Super Silent Auction lots are more valuable than the standard Silent Auction lot. They also remain open later into the evening, closing during the Live Auction presentation on Saturday. 

So, you’ve got your personalized Mobile Bidding link… check. You’ve seen the lots in Mobile Bidding when it opens… check. Now it’s time to bid! Once you’ve placed your bid, you will receive a text notification every time you’re outbid. From time to time, you will also receive texts regarding the status of the auction. All auction related texts arrive in the same text thread. 

Pro tip: Set a Max Bid on items you love. The system will automatically bid for you up to that amount, so you can sip, socialize, and enjoy the event without looking at your phone all night.

Live Auctions 

The Live Auction is the pinnacle for Pairings and l’Eté du Vin, taking place on Saturday night and featuring the biggest and best lots available. Information for these lots is found in the Auction Catalog, which is mailed to registered attendees and also available at nashvillewineauction.com ahead of the event. 

Bidding in the Live Auction can only take place in the room where it happens. If you cannot be in the room, then you may bid through an “Absentee Bidder” form.  This form is made available for every Live Auction. Simply fill out and sign the form indicating the lots you are interested in and the amount you are prepared to pay, and Nashville Wine Auction will put a bidder in the room to raise a paddle on your behalf. You’ll be notified the following week if your bid was successful or not.

Live Auctions feel like a party, but the bidding is serious and the purchases are very real. If you get playfully paddle happy, you will most likely buy something!

Picking up your treasures 

The Auction is over and you’re ready to take home your items! At the end of the evening, pick up is opened and after checking out, winning bidders may acquire their purchases. Should you not be in attendance that evening, you can always pick up your winnings at the Nashville Wine Auction office in the week following the event. Keep in mind, we are not open the Monday after the event to allow for staff recuperation! 

Please note: the Pairings Silent Auction closes Friday night at Wined Up! and if you attempt to pick up your items on Saturday, they will not be available. Lots are only available to be picked up on the night that they close. Just stop by the Nashville Wine Auction office the following week to get your prize if you can’t pick up the same day. 

Did you bid and win a seat at a dinner/tasting? Your seat is saved and we’ll see you at the event! You’ll receive more details via email leading up to the event. Did you bid on a trip? You’ll receive follow-up communication regarding your trip dates, itinerary and other important information. 

Ready to test your new auction knowledge? Limited tickets are available for Wined Up! and Pairings dinner and Live Auction. Save your seat here. 

Contributor: Nikki Schuster is currently the Design Specialist at Nashville Wine Auction and formerly known as Nikki Shannon the Auction Director. Drawing on her experience overseeing Nashville Wine Auction’s Live, Silent, and Super Silent auctions, Nikki brings practical insight from years of auction production and guest education.

About the 101 Series

This article marks the first installment in our 101 series, inspired by the internal “101 sessions” we’ve long used to onboard new interns and new team members at Nashville Wine Auction. Over the years, these informal trainings have proven invaluable in breaking down the inner workings of our events and helping first-timers feel confident and prepared. We realized all our attendees could benefit from the same insider knowledge. In the coming months, we’ll continue the series with additional 101 articles designed to demystify different aspects of our events — from event overviews to wine selection and beyond.