Saturday, November 7, 2026 · Customer reviews of US businesses
The Fair Hearing score
Average
280 reviews
VinovestSelect a line to read only those reviews.
Honesty, pricing, process and quality scores appear once 5 customers have rated them.
Vinovest is a modern wine and whiskey investing platform that helps customers source investment grade wines, provide professional storage and custody solutions, and manage ongoing buying/selling recommendations. We have cultivated direct relationships with the most sought-after wineries and distilleries in the world. We pride ourselves on being able to source the most collectible wines in the world at the best prices.
Vinovest (vinovest.co) has 280 customer reviews on The Fair Hearing, with an average rating of 3.2 out of 5.
280 approved reviews, newest moderated first
Absolute diabolical operation. Don't do it!
By Demus D.
Response from Vinovest· Jan 30, 2026
Hi Demus, I see you've left two reviews expressing frustration. I'd like to understand what specific issues you've encountered so I can address them directly. If it's liquidity, fees, valuations, or something else entirely, I want to know. Please email me at [email protected] with details, and I'll personally look into your account. — Brent Akamine, CEO
Massive scam! They told me there was a technical issue with the platform that did not allow me to pay my overdue fees as I could not login. They then sent me an email to say they had liquidated parts of my portfolio (at half the price of what I had paid originally four years ago) because I had not paid my fees. On top of that they have been charging me 100s of pounds in fees over the years despite me not even being able to login to see my portfolio. Fraudulent company - do not investment
By Andrea Lemming P.
Response from Vinovest· Jan 30, 2026
Hi Andrea, This is a serious situation and I want to address it directly. If you were unable to log in due to a platform issue on our end, and then had your portfolio liquidated because of unpaid fees you couldn't pay, that's a failure on our part. You shouldn't be charged fees for access you didn't have. I'd like to personally review your account history, the login issues, and the liquidation that occurred. Please email me at [email protected] with your account email and any documentation you have (emails, screenshots, etc.). I can't promise to undo what's happened, but I can promise to understand exactly what went wrong and discuss what options are available. — Brent Akamine, CEO
Thsi is the biggest mistake i have ever made. You read about how adventurous and lucrative wine collecting can be and I just choose the wrong partner. Vinovest is just plain bad at what they do and it is just geeting worse. How can wine collecting be lurative whe they have over 4000 wines for sale on their marketplace many at 20 to 50% off the estimated value and even then they are not selling. I have asked for my over 100 botles to be shipped to me here in the US which is part of thier sales pitch so I can "enjoy" them. I will be sure to post the reponse. Stay away.
By scott H.
Response from Vinovest· Jan 30, 2026
Hi Scott, You're describing the core challenge with wine markets: even at significant discounts, sales take time because the buyer pool is limited. I understand how frustrating that is when you're trying to exit. Regarding shipping your bottles to the US: this is absolutely something we can facilitate. The cost varies based on warehouse location, bottle count, and destination. I'd be happy to get you a specific quote. Email me at [email protected] with your account details and I'll personally ensure you get shipping options and pricing within a week. — Brent Akamine, CEO
Scam company, estimated valuations are nowhere neaer mkt price, you will never be able to sell your wine for nearly what you even paid. Takes months to sell at pennies on the dollar, all the while they are charging storage and other fees. Shipping cost is ridiculously expensive to take delivery, was quoted 500USD to ship a half case. Wish I never gave them any $, stay away.
By Ben K.
Response from Vinovest· Jan 30, 2026
Hi Ben, I want to address both issues you raised: On valuations: You're right that our portfolio values (replacement cost) often exceed what you'd receive selling quickly. This is true across the wine industry - like the gap between Zillow estimates and quick-sale home prices. We should make this clearer, and we're working on showing both values side by side. On shipping: $500 for a half case does sound high. Shipping costs depend on origin warehouse, destination, and insurance requirements. I'd like to review your specific quote to see if there are alternatives. Please email me at [email protected] and I'll personally look at your options. — Brent Akamine, CEO
I feel trapped. The market is completely illiquid, which makes it near impossible to get out of your investment once you're in. You can list your wines for sale, but even after putting them up for months at an almost a 50% discount, they don't sell. All the while you're constantly forced to pay monthly fees. When I signed up they said you could physically redeem your wines, but the reality is that they'll charge you an extortionate amount for shipping and insurance which makes it non viable. Truly a modern day scam, it's difficult to understand how they haven't been shut down by the FCA.
By Rick
Response from Vinovest· Jan 30, 2026
Hi Rick, "Feeling trapped" is exactly the experience we don't want anyone to have. Let me address your points directly: Liquidity: Wine is illiquid by nature - even at major auction houses, sales take months. That said, if you've been listed at 50% discount for months with no movement, there may be pricing or positioning adjustments we can explore. Fees during liquidation: I understand this feels unfair. Your wine still requires storage and insurance while listed, which is why fees continue. But I hear you. Shipping costs: These are set by logistics providers and vary by location. If the quote you received seems excessive, I'd like to review it. Email me at [email protected]. I'll personally review your account and give you an honest assessment of your options - whether that's adjusted pricing, shipping, or something else. — Brent Akamine, CEO
Not for small stock investors. I invested a small test investment of $4000 in November, 2020. Since that time, I have been asked multiple times to add more funds to my account to allow for the management fees of anywhere between $7 and $11 dollars a month. I added $200 (bringing the total investment cost to be $4200) strictly to pay for these fees, for the total return investment result of a *negative* 2.4% return from my initial investment amount almost 5 years ago. In fact, according to my account record there has been absolutely no management on my account since January. This business model runs entirely on the storage and trade management fees and is not self-sustainable through the actual trading of wine without additional funding from the investor to cover fees. Also, their website statement download area does not work for statements before August 2023, so all those statements are currently unretrievable.
By Sean M.
I have nothing positive to say about this company. I strongly do not recommend it.
By Ahmed Al H.
Had an easy and smooth transition. The portfolio advisor made it simple and easy for me to get started. She answered all my questions timely and helped me through all the processes.
By Robert L.
Response from Vinovest· Jan 30, 2026
Hi Robert, Thank you so much for the kind words! We're thrilled that your onboarding experience was smooth and that our portfolio advisor was able to answer all your questions. Getting started with wine investing can feel daunting, so we work hard to make the process as clear and supportive as possible. If you ever need anything as you continue your wine investing journey, don't hesitate to reach out. Welcome to Vinovest! — Brent Akamine, CEO
