ABOUT

About Allan Frischman 
With more than three decades at the forefront of the global rare-wine market, Allan Frischman has built a reputation as one of the world’s most trusted authorities on wine authentication, valuation, and secondary-market strategy. His career has spanned senior leadership roles at the most respected auction houses in the world, where he helped shape the inspection, storage, and condition standards now regarded as the benchmark for integrity and precision. 

​

Experience Highlights 

Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. — Senior Vice President (2004–2023) 
As one of the founding team members at Hart Davis Hart, Allan established the inspection and authentication standards that would become the gold standard for the rare-wine auction world. Over nearly two decades, he helped build HDH’s reputation as the most trusted name in fine-wine auctions worldwide. 

In 2013, Allan served as an expert witness for the U.S. Department of Justice in the landmark wine-fraud trial of Rudy Kurniawan. Working directly with the FBI and federal prosecutors, he personally examined every counterfeit bottle and reviewed extensive evidence from the Bel Air, California crime scene. His work provided critical insight into the scale and sophistication of modern wine fraud and 
remains a reference point for authenticity practices throughout the industry. 

​

Sotheby’s — Senior Wine Expert, Chicago (1998–2004) 
At Sotheby’s, Allan collaborated with the New York and London teams, overseeing inspection and authentication for some of the most important wine auctions of the late 1990s and early 2000s. He played a central role in the record-breaking Millennium Wine Cellar sale, which at the time set the world record for the largest single-owner wine auction ever held. 

​

Davis & Company Wine Auctioneers — Wine Expert (1996–1998) 
During his tenure at Davis & Company, Allan helped transform traditional wine auctions from trade-focused events into dynamic gatherings that attracted the world’s leading winemakers and collectors. He implemented new standards for inspection, transparency, and presentation that modernized the auction experience and influenced the next generation of wine sales worldwide. 

​

Morrell & Company — Auction Director (1994–1996) 
As Director of Auctions at Morrell & Company, Allan led the creation of New York’s first legal, commercial, wine auctions since Prohibition. The success of those early sales helped establish New York as the global center of the fine-wine auction market, paving the way for the industry’s modern era. 

​

Today

Allan now leads a boutique advisory and sales practice dedicated to helping private collectors navigate the complex secondary market with clarity and confidence. He offers impartial, conflict-free guidance on acquisition, valuation, and consignment strategy—drawing on decades of direct experience inspecting and trading the world’s rarest and most valuable wines. 
 
Whether discreetly sourcing a mature Burgundy, preparing a cellar for sale, or advising on long-term portfolio planning, Allan’s approach combines deep technical expertise with a collector’s sensibility and a dealer’s market insight. His goal is simple: to protect and enhance the value of his clients’ collections while ensuring that the experience of buying and selling fine wine remains as rewarding as the wines themselves.