How to Start a Wine Collection

Starting a Wine Collection

Starting and maintaining a wine collection is a terrific project for anyone who loves wine, wants to learn more about wine, and would like to always have carefully-chosen and delicious wines available for sharing with friends and family.

A wine collection should be a curated group of wines chosen for their quality, and for their ability to express a certain terroir and winemaking style. A wine collection should also reflect your own taste and include wines you’ve sought out and that you truly enjoy. If you have the collecting bug, it can be a lifetime pursuit.

There are a few basics to consider before starting a collection:

• You’ll need an initial investment of at least several thousand dollars, and you’ll need to regularly replace wines you drink. This means if you’re drinking a $50 classic Cabernet Sauvignon from Beringer or Silver Oak, you’ll want to replace it with another classic Cab of about the same quality and price.
•  You’ll need to do research to find out what you like, who the best producers are, how the wines age, and how vintages vary from one year to the next.  You also should keep detailed records of your purchases and have a system to remind yourself when your wines will be best for drinking. This is ongoing.
• And you’ll need storage space, meaning a wine cellar. If you’re fortunate enough to have a basement that stays between 50- and 60-degrees Fahrenheit, that’s great. If not, you should purchase a temperature-controlled wine storage refrigerator or rent space at a professional wine storage facility. If you live in a small home or apartment, storage rental may be your only option.

Back to money. Remember that the point of a collection  is to have quality wines that you’d be proud to share. Buying $15 wines for a party is fine, but for cellar wines expect to spend a minimum of $30 a bottle for some whites, such a Sauvignon Blanc, domestic Chardonnays or Veltliners, and up to several hundred dollars a bottle or more for prestige wines, such as First Growth Bordeaux, Grand Cru Burgundy, Barolo, vintage Champagne or California Cult Cabs. Buying by the case when a favorite wine is released is a good idea, if you can afford it. That way you get wines with perfect provenance. And, if the wine is likely to appreciate with age, you’re getting the best possible price.  If the wine greatly appreciates you may want to sell part of your initial purchase to finance more buying.

If you can’t afford a case, buy at least two or three bottles. That way you can try a bottle of an age-worthy wine at its first window of expected maturity, perhaps after five years. Then in another five years open another bottle. Always make detailed tasting notes so you can compare the experiences. Due to the natural chemistry involved in wine making, wine constantly evolves.  The smell, taste and even the  look of wine changes over time.

Doing the research to start a collection is great fun. An easy way to start is by visiting wine shops, where they often offer free tastings. If you live somewhere with wineries, taste at wineries. Buy bottles out of your comfort zone. If you haven’t tried a Barolo, buy one. If you don’t know what an excellent dry, German or Alsatian Riesling tastes like, ask for  recommendations. An excellent way to learn about wine is to subscribe to a wine journal so you can read what the professionals say about wines, vintages and producers. You may not always agree with their taste, but they are highly experienced and knowledgeable. And, whenever possible, taste older wines.  In general, wines become less tannic and more complex with age. Auctions are a good place to acquire wines that may be 10 to 40 years old, or more.

Wines made to age are tannic reds such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Barolo and some classic California Cabernet Sauvignons.  Some white wines also should be aged. Côte d’Or white Burgundies are some of the most age-worthy white wines. Whether you are aging reds or whites, the point is to try them at various stages. 
Like a  balanced stock portfolio,  a balanced cellar shouldn’t be too deep in any one style of wine.  A well-planned cellar should  include about 50% wines that need aging for at least 5 to 10 years, about 25% wines for aging 2 to 5 years, and 25% wines ready to drink now. Be sure to include an even ratio of reds to whites. You should also split your collection between so-called Old World wines, meaning those from Europe, and New World wines, wines from North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Reds for Aging 5 or more years:

• Second growth Bordeaux, including Château Leoville-Las-Cases, Château Cos d’Estournel, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
• Premier Cru Burgundy, including wines from Domaine Comte de Vogue,Domaine Armand Rousseau, Maison Joseph Drouhin
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape, including wines from Domaine de Saint-Prefert, Domaine du Pegau, Pierre Usseglio
• Barolos and Barbarescos, including wines from Luciano Sandrone, Gaja, Roberto Voerizo, Ceretto
  
• Classic California Cabernet Sauvignon, including wines from Schrader, Beringer,Spottswoode,  Paul Hobbs, Chateau Montelena.
  
• If your budget allows for it, splurge on First Growth Bordeaux, Grand Cru Burgundy and vintage Champagne. Among the best are Château Mouton-Rothschild, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, and Moet et Chandon Dom Perignon.

White for Aging 5 or more years:

• Premier Cru and Grand Cru White Burgundy, including wines from Bonneau du Martray, William Fevre, Louis Jadot.
• Top California Chardonnays, including wines from  Marcassin and Aubert

Wines for Aging 2 to 5 years:

This includes mature wines you’ve purchased, and new wines that will not benefit from more than 5 years in the cellar. Many reds and whites that are well-made and cost $25 to $35 a bottle improve with a little aging. Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Barbera, Zinfandel and domestic Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot are good for short-term cellaring.

Wines to Enjoy Now:

Anything that costs less than $25, including Gamay, Primitivo, Pinot Grigio, Beaujolais.