Building a Wine Collection

One of the most interesting topics about wine that I engage with people on is the subject of collection, or acquisition. Usually after the average wine drinker finds a wine they are hooked on, he/she either wants to grab a case or two of it, or find more and more varietals just like it. A wine collection is always good to start or build on, even if it’s just to have that spare bottle to give as a last minute gift to a party.

Whether you are trying to merely stock up on wine to have available at a moment’s notice, or if you just bought a home and want to show off a newly built wine cellar, here are a few tips for getting started on your grand collection.

1. Stroll through a giant wine retail store: Depending on where you live, huge chain stores like Total Wine, Bottle King, or BevMo are perfect for learning about what works and doesn’t work for your wine collection. Although the “wine experts” these chains hire are hit or miss, don’t be afraid to use them for all the knowledge they have. Ask questions, find out what types of wine you would like most at X, Y, and Z price points. If it’s your first time, buy a mixed case (usually a discount is offered) and see which wines are worth keeping or worth not coming back for. In the beginning, it’s all about learning and process of elimination.
2. Find your space: Maybe you live in a shoe box apartment in Manhattan, or maybe you have a big house with plenty of space to build a custom wine cellar. Usually there’s a middle ground here where most people will invest in a decent wine fridge to hold their newly acquired bottles of wine. The most important thing to know is that no matter where you live, all you need is a dark place (like a closet) where no direct sunlight comes in where the temperature is constant and room temperature at its warmest. It’s hilarious how many people I know buy expensive bottles of wine and get at least one of these things wrong. Why would you buy a $600 bottle of Mouton just to see it cook in the sun? If you invest in a wine fridge, keep it at 55* Fahrenheit – it is the ideal temperature for red wine storage.
3. Never do it for the $$$$: So many people START a collection by doing it for the purpose of making money. If you’re interested in learning about wine, and having wine on hand for hosting parties, or just to hold wine for that special occasion, NEVER do it for the investment. It’ll drive you crazy. Also, in the beginning, never count your stock. Just enjoy finding out what works and doesn’t work for your palette, then build your inventory from there. After all, wine should be fun. Enjoy!