Wine Cellar
Wine Cellar at your next game night?
Add Wine Cellar to your collection, let your group vote on what to play, and keep track of winners and scores. Free, no credit card.
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- Designer Andrew Stiles
- Publisher 25th Century Games , Arrakis Games , DiceTree Games , GaGa Games , Gémklub
- Illustration Vincent Dutrait
The description, FAQ and assessments for this game were generated with the help of artificial intelligence from the game data and reviewed editorially. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
What to Expect
Players act as rival sommeliers, bidding on bottles and building a cellar tailored to a client's tastes. Over multiple rounds players acquire bottles, place them into a consumption timeline, and score based on bottle position and client preferences like wine type and country. The publisher notes eight rounds and highlights the mix of auction and hand management with sealed bids influencing choices.
Who Is This Game For?
Aimed at families and party groups (recommended age 10+). With a short playtime (~20 minutes) and up to eight players, it fits casual groups and larger gatherings. Familiarity with auction or hand-management mechanics helps but is not required.
How It Works
Core mechanics include Auction / Bidding (Sealed Bid), Selection Order Bid and Hand Management. Each round players submit hidden bids to win bottles, then arrange won cards into a timeline that affects their value. Client preferences add another scoring layer, so bidding, card placement and hand decisions interact across rounds.
What Makes It Special
Designed by Andrew Stiles, Wine Cellar merges sealed auctions with positional scoring in a timeline. It was a 2025 nominee for the Golden Geek Best Party Game and sits in the Wine/Food & Drink family. Short rounds and high player count make it stand out among quick, social card games.
Awards
2025
Pro
- Short playtime (~20 minutes) allows multiple plays
- Supports 1–8 players — scalable for big groups
- Sealed-bid auctions combined with timeline placement create meaningful decisions
- Appeals to wine/food-theme fans
Contra
- Short rounds may limit strategic depth for experienced gamers
- Sealed bids and auction mechanics can be initially unfamiliar to newcomers
Setting & atmosphere
The game revolves around wine, sommeliers and assembling a cellar to suit a client's tastes. The theatrical focus is explicitly on Wine/Food & Drink as listed in the family data.
Tips for beginners
Focus on client preferences and the placement order of bottles; sealed bids reward cautious estimation of opponents.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play this solo?
Yes. players.min is 1, so solo play is possible.
How long does a game really take?
Listed duration is about 20 minutes; sessions with multiple games are common.
What prior experience do I need?
Basic familiarity with auction or hand-management games helps, but it's accessible to families and casual groups.
How does this compare to similar games?
Wine Cellar pairs sealed auctions with a timeline-placement scoring, linking bidding and positional value more tightly than some other party card games.
Is this suitable for families?
Yes. With min_age 10 and short playtime, it's appropriate for family or party play.
What mechanic makes it special?
The combination of Auction: Sealed Bid, Selection Order Bid and Hand Management defines its play.
Fazit
Good choice if you want a quick auction-driven card game with a wine theme for larger groups. Players seeking deep, long strategic sessions may find the short rounds limiting.
Wine Cellar at your next game night?
Add Wine Cellar to your collection, let your group vote on what to play, and keep track of winners and scores. Free, no credit card.
Add Wine Cellar to my collectionAlready have an account? Log in
