Of all the many things to collect, wine has to be one of the most exciting. After all, what other hobby allows you to consume your collection should the mood strike? As you get started with building a collection, here are 7 simple suggestions to help you make the most of the experience and give you a little push down the slippery slope of enological enjoyment.
1. Have goals. Are you focused on collecting wines to drink, for investment, or both? Consider buying birth or anniversary year wines, which are especially rewarding to open later, but don’t forget key vintages that are sure to age well. If you’re investing, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and “cult” California tend to have the most potential for returns.
2. Know your budget. This doesn’t have to be a large number, but as with all purchases, it helps to know what you’re willing to spend and tailor a plan to work with that number.
3. Define your interests. Think about regions, producers and varieties that excite you, and then broaden your purchases from there. Let’s say you especially love domestic Pinot Noir. Consider expanding to villages level French Burgundy or to Italian Barbaresco or Barolo to explore further.
4. Purchase in quantities of 6 or 12. This will allow you to taste and enjoy a specific wine as it matures and help you dial in your preference for wines at certain points in their development.
5. Protect your purchases. Whether your wines are for drinking or investment, you’ll need to protect them. Wines will last longer when stored at the proper temperature (55-58 degrees) and humidity (70-80%). In some parts of the US, the cellar under the house is ideal, but in most locations, some kind of professional storage is better. Your options range from a storage locker to prime full service storage like Vinfolio’s.
6. Manage your collection. Sure, some people love keeping a hand-written log of their purchases, but it’s much easier to find the bottle you want if you can sort your list online. Two options are Cellartracker and Vinfolio’s VinCellar. Both give you access to data such as professional scores, community tasting notes, and wine label images, but only VinCellar is integrated with Vinfolio’s wine store and the Vinfolio Marketplace, allowing you to buy and sell bottles easily from your account.
7. Taste, taste, taste! As with any pursuit, practice makes perfect. Exercise your palate by trying new regions, producers, and varieties. Join a tasting group or open bottles regularly with friends. More than anything, collecting wine is about enjoying wine, so have fun!
Vinfolio’s Wine Specialists love to discuss wine collecting! If you have questions, call us at 800-969-1961 or send an email to winespecialists@vinfolio.com.
