Auction house Acker Merrall & Condit will hold an exclusive wine tasting prior to this week's big sale of Bordeaux and Burgundy wine.

The invitation-only event on November 4th will allow potential bidders the chance to try the fine and rare vintages going under the hammer the next day, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Wines to be tasted include a 1966 Chateau Mouton Rothschild and a 1988 Chateau Lafite Rothschild.

The auction house's president, John Kapon, told the publication that the event is just one of the ways that Acker Merrall & Condit endeavours to make the sale an entertaining experience for potential bidders.

"We have sommeliers running around the auction room, sometimes putting bottles on tables, sometimes giving a taste of a special thing. We want people to leave and say they had a great day," he said.

Rival auction house Sotheby's recently announced it will hold a sale featuring the cases of the 2000 vintage from the 16 best Bordeaux chateaux.