How to Start a Fine Wine Collection
Debunk the myths., Set yourself a budget., Define your strategy., Ask yourself: can I afford this strategy?, Look at the wine itself., Three crucial factors to bear in mind: Not all wines are created to be aged., Determine which wine is age-able...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Debunk the myths.
There are some myths to debunk about fine wine collecting.
Firstly, that it is just for the super wealthy
- it isn't.
It can also be flexibly adopted as a lifestyle, or merely a hobby, depending on how much time you wish to invest.
Secondly, you don't need a large underground cellar.
And, thirdly, you don't need to part with a large up-front investment. -
Step 2: Set yourself a budget.
Wine collecting is driven by passion and excitement
- and can quickly get out of hand.
So, to avoid finding yourself hunting for those great wines and forgetting the impact on your wallet, decide how much of your money to spend and stick to it.
At an average cost of $10 a bottle an average case of wine can be around $120.
So, by buying one case a month you'd spend just under $1,500 a year or, at $30 the annual cost is $6,000, and so on.
Twelve cases a year isn't a bad target.
This would give you 144 bottles overall, equaling a bottle to drink every three days or two bottles a week. , You've determined your total spending, now figure out how and where you're going to spend it.
This could reflect your drinking patterns.
For instance, you may like one glass of wine during a night's meal.
At four glasses per bottle, you will need about two bottles a week, or a case of wine a month.
Maybe factor your family and loved ones into the total, and any special events or family holidays.
Let's assume there are an average of 12 major events in a year.
For these, factor in another 24 "special bottles". , Twenty-four cases of $10 per bottle wine are approximately $3,000.
Another two cases of "specialty" wine at $20 per bottle will cost approximately $500.
So, to support your buying strategy, you'll need about $3,500.
How does this compare with your budget? If you're over budget, then perhaps consider less costly wines, or simply fewer cases. , Wine storage can be simple and hassle free... if you plan to drink your wine within six months.
If not, you may want to invest in age-able wines which can be stored for many years. , In fact, most wines are best drunk while young.
Improper storage will easily and likely ruin your wine.
Wine's value decreases after its prime time. , Wine without much "personality" (i.e. lacking a strong structure and with no character to its taste) won't benefit at all from ageing.
In fact, aging the wrong bottle is a bit like watering down a good bottle of wine with water.
Good, age-able wines are tannic, acidic, well-structured, and complex.
Tannins, the natural preservatives that come from the grape's skin, will soften as time passes.
It will round up the wine, bringing out its best bouquet and balance.
Good, age-able wines include (from France) Medoc, Graves, St Emilion, Pomerol and Pommard, (from the US) Premium California Cabernet Sauvignon, and (from Australia) Penfolds Grange, among many others. , The ideal wine collection should comprise a cross section of wines, some for long-aging and some for ready drinking.
But how can you successfully collect and balance the two? For starters, you've already determined how much wine you are looking to consume over the coming year, and how much money you can and are willing to spend.
Among lovers of fine wine, it isn't unusual for drinkers to develop three-season palates.
In the summer, we go for light-bodied, refreshing wines and, in the winter, for more full-bodied reds.
So, why not buy your wine to match the seasons? About eight cases of light-bodied bottles for the summer, and 10 cases of full-bodied wines for the winter, and the rest somewhere between the two? , Many would advise that, for a beginner collector, storage is best left to the professionals.
However, here is some advice on storing it yourself.
Wine, like any perishable food item, is sensitive to its surroundings.
Fortunately, the alcohol in wine does act as a preservative.
But heat and air and the natural enemies of wine.
The quality of your wine's storage will affect its value. , Try to stay below 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
The warmer the temperature, the faster your wine will age.
Temperature fluctuations can result in "ullage"
meaning wine is lost as the liquid expands and contracts in the varying temperatures.
Moderate humidity: ideally 65-75%.
The cork in the bottle requires this to maintain its seal and stay moist.
Keep your bottles on their side, and avoid having them inverted.
No vibration: vibrations will break up the alcohol and acid chemical bonds
- or Esters
- which give aged wines their "bottle bouquet." No light: wine is badly affected by UV rays (this is primarily why wine bottles are colored either green or brown, for minor protection).
Therefore, store your wine in darkness. , Wine's value drops after its ideal maturity, which differs for each grape and is affected by the wine's region or vintage.
A premium Bordeaux, for instance, may take 15 years to peak (or "open up"), whereas a premium Burgundy (based on thin-skinned Pinot Noir grapes) can peak in eight years.
You can find out the recommended aging period from various online resources such as Wine Spectators and Robert Parker.
If you plan to sell your wine, you will get the best price one-to-three years before the recommended serving time. -
Step 3: Define your strategy.
-
Step 4: Ask yourself: can I afford this strategy?
-
Step 5: Look at the wine itself.
-
Step 6: Three crucial factors to bear in mind: Not all wines are created to be aged.
-
Step 7: Determine which wine is age-able.
-
Step 8: Plan out your collection.
-
Step 9: Storing your wine.
-
Step 10: Your wine storage area should have the following attributes: A cool
-
Step 11: constant temperature: ideally between 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit (or 10-16 degrees Celsius) with minimal fluctuation.
-
Step 12: Know when to drink or sell your collection.
Detailed Guide
There are some myths to debunk about fine wine collecting.
Firstly, that it is just for the super wealthy
- it isn't.
It can also be flexibly adopted as a lifestyle, or merely a hobby, depending on how much time you wish to invest.
Secondly, you don't need a large underground cellar.
And, thirdly, you don't need to part with a large up-front investment.
Wine collecting is driven by passion and excitement
- and can quickly get out of hand.
So, to avoid finding yourself hunting for those great wines and forgetting the impact on your wallet, decide how much of your money to spend and stick to it.
At an average cost of $10 a bottle an average case of wine can be around $120.
So, by buying one case a month you'd spend just under $1,500 a year or, at $30 the annual cost is $6,000, and so on.
Twelve cases a year isn't a bad target.
This would give you 144 bottles overall, equaling a bottle to drink every three days or two bottles a week. , You've determined your total spending, now figure out how and where you're going to spend it.
This could reflect your drinking patterns.
For instance, you may like one glass of wine during a night's meal.
At four glasses per bottle, you will need about two bottles a week, or a case of wine a month.
Maybe factor your family and loved ones into the total, and any special events or family holidays.
Let's assume there are an average of 12 major events in a year.
For these, factor in another 24 "special bottles". , Twenty-four cases of $10 per bottle wine are approximately $3,000.
Another two cases of "specialty" wine at $20 per bottle will cost approximately $500.
So, to support your buying strategy, you'll need about $3,500.
How does this compare with your budget? If you're over budget, then perhaps consider less costly wines, or simply fewer cases. , Wine storage can be simple and hassle free... if you plan to drink your wine within six months.
If not, you may want to invest in age-able wines which can be stored for many years. , In fact, most wines are best drunk while young.
Improper storage will easily and likely ruin your wine.
Wine's value decreases after its prime time. , Wine without much "personality" (i.e. lacking a strong structure and with no character to its taste) won't benefit at all from ageing.
In fact, aging the wrong bottle is a bit like watering down a good bottle of wine with water.
Good, age-able wines are tannic, acidic, well-structured, and complex.
Tannins, the natural preservatives that come from the grape's skin, will soften as time passes.
It will round up the wine, bringing out its best bouquet and balance.
Good, age-able wines include (from France) Medoc, Graves, St Emilion, Pomerol and Pommard, (from the US) Premium California Cabernet Sauvignon, and (from Australia) Penfolds Grange, among many others. , The ideal wine collection should comprise a cross section of wines, some for long-aging and some for ready drinking.
But how can you successfully collect and balance the two? For starters, you've already determined how much wine you are looking to consume over the coming year, and how much money you can and are willing to spend.
Among lovers of fine wine, it isn't unusual for drinkers to develop three-season palates.
In the summer, we go for light-bodied, refreshing wines and, in the winter, for more full-bodied reds.
So, why not buy your wine to match the seasons? About eight cases of light-bodied bottles for the summer, and 10 cases of full-bodied wines for the winter, and the rest somewhere between the two? , Many would advise that, for a beginner collector, storage is best left to the professionals.
However, here is some advice on storing it yourself.
Wine, like any perishable food item, is sensitive to its surroundings.
Fortunately, the alcohol in wine does act as a preservative.
But heat and air and the natural enemies of wine.
The quality of your wine's storage will affect its value. , Try to stay below 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
The warmer the temperature, the faster your wine will age.
Temperature fluctuations can result in "ullage"
meaning wine is lost as the liquid expands and contracts in the varying temperatures.
Moderate humidity: ideally 65-75%.
The cork in the bottle requires this to maintain its seal and stay moist.
Keep your bottles on their side, and avoid having them inverted.
No vibration: vibrations will break up the alcohol and acid chemical bonds
- or Esters
- which give aged wines their "bottle bouquet." No light: wine is badly affected by UV rays (this is primarily why wine bottles are colored either green or brown, for minor protection).
Therefore, store your wine in darkness. , Wine's value drops after its ideal maturity, which differs for each grape and is affected by the wine's region or vintage.
A premium Bordeaux, for instance, may take 15 years to peak (or "open up"), whereas a premium Burgundy (based on thin-skinned Pinot Noir grapes) can peak in eight years.
You can find out the recommended aging period from various online resources such as Wine Spectators and Robert Parker.
If you plan to sell your wine, you will get the best price one-to-three years before the recommended serving time.
About the Author
Teresa Perry
Writer and educator with a focus on practical home improvement knowledge.
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