How To Start A Wine Collection
You have been an oenophile for some time now, and you think it is time to take your relationship with wine to the next level: building and maintaining a wine collection. This may seem daunting, but with the right information, it can be a rewarding, lucrative, and fun pursuit. To follow is an introductory guide on how to start and care for a high-end wine collection.
Decide what the goal of your cellar is
Are these bottles you will regularly be drinking and rotating through, or are these investment bottles that you may never drink?
The joke around one of the most famous cult wines out there, Screaming Eagle, is that no one has ever actually tasted Screaming Eagle; it just sits in cellars and gets sold at auction.
While people have opened bottles of Screaming Eagle and consumed them, it is also true that some wines are seen more as investment bottles and will gain in value, so it may not make much sense to open them. Additionally, if you are looking to ensure monetary appreciation vs. sensory appreciation, established houses tend to be safer investments. There are always new wines popping up on the market, many in the luxury category, but until their track record is known, their reputation built, and their cellar-worthiness determined, they will not appreciate in value the same way. Some reliable online sources curate top-end wines for you. This is one way to jumpstart your wine collection.
Decide if your wine collection will have a regional focus
This question will also somewhat depend on your answer to the above. There are plenty of very expensive wines from the Rhone Valley, for example, and if you love Rhone wine, then definitely buy these; many, such as Chave or the La-La’s (Guigal’s La Landonne, La Mouline, La Turque), will also make a decent investment.
If you are cellaring purely for investment, however, Bordeaux wines may be a better bet—there are many established Bordeaux houses, the wines have a proven track record of consistently appreciating in value, and as the region is known for being run like a savvy business, it is easy to track the history of value, sales, and appreciation of wine from Bordeaux. On the other hand, if your cellar is primarily for enjoyment and you don’t care for Bordeaux….don’t buy Bordeaux.
Ensure proper temperature
Possibly more important than keeping wines at the “perfect” temperature (around 55 degrees Fahrenheit), keeping the wine at a consistent temperature is paramount—fluctuations are a sure way to reduce the life of a wine.
45-65 degrees Fahrenheit should do the trick, provided the temperature is stable.
Basement cellars work well, but a wine storage refrigeration unit is a good bet if you don’t have a basement or space for a cellar. Remember, technology is not infallible, so regularly check that the unit is working correctly. Humidity control is a bonus, but you are likely fine outside of extreme dryness or humidity.
Store the wine on its side.
This is key for long-term storage to keep the cork moist and sealed. A wide range of custom-built units are available if you want to impress—but beyond aesthetics, all that is necessary is a stable shelving unit. Many can be purchased relatively cheaply. Keeping the wine on its side also ensures the sediment in older wines will settle uniformly, making the wine easier to decant when the time comes to drink.
Keep bottles away from light.
Have you ever noticed that any high-end wine or wine meant for aging is not sold in a clear glass bottle? Colored glass bottles help filter out some of the UV rays the wine may contact. It does not completely protect the wine; bottles should be kept in a dark area away from sunlight.
Keep moving and shaking in your professional life.
The term “bottle shock” doesn’t refer to absurd wine list prices but rather to the phenomenon that happens when a bottle encounters movement or vibration. This often happens right after bottling and/or shipping, and any movement is considered bad for the wine both in terms of throwing the flavors off in the immediate future and for the ultimate aging of the wine.
Catalog your cellar
Keeping organized is a good bet for many reasons. I like to keep wine organized by region, much like how I organize my wine lists. Depending on the size of your personal wine cellar, it may not make sense to assign “bin” numbers, but numbering rows and keeping a running inventory can help you remember what is there, avoid accidentally drinking the last of something, and assist future purchasing decisions. Though they involve a cost, several programs exist to help you with this.
Consider insurance
Insurance is a good idea if your wine collection gets big and/or costly enough, like any valuable asset. Even a single bottle worth $200 can be insured; however, it is up to you to determine when insurance premiums become worth it. See our article about insuring your wine collection for more details.
Attend auctions and build relationships with auction and consignment houses.
Live wine auctions are quite a spectacle, and you can get a feel for the market while often sampling some amazing bottles. Many can even be accessed online if you cannot travel to the physical site. When bidding wars happen, though, they may not be the best place to get deals.
Some auction houses also have retail sides to their business where you can buy wine anytime. Consignment houses will have a rotating inventory that they may be able to sell to the public. Relationships are a big part of selling wine; those running these businesses will be happy to get to know and assist you.
Understand and minimize your risk.
If you buy wine for your collection anywhere other than directly from the winery, some risk will be involved. Know who you buy from and ask how they minimize fraud and bad bottles. Know the provenance of any significant wines purchased—who owned it, how it was stored, what condition it is in, and how it got to you. Most of the major auction houses will do this work for you, but there is always some risk involved. You can start with our trusted list of the best online wine stores.
Consider hiring an expert to manage your cellar.
I often prefer to leave my big tasks to the experts; I do not intend to, for instance, install my HVAC system. However, for many people building a wine cellar, finding the inventory, organizing, and cataloging the contents is part of the enjoyment.
If this is not the case for you, many consultants can help you with everything from purchasing to cellar design. If you plan to keep your wine collection small, consider a high-quality dual-zone wine refrigerator instead of a wine cellar.
