Crazy about wine
How to build a wine collection
A question of simple mathematics
A good wine collection includes lots of wonderful experiences (on top of lots of wonderful bottles). Establishing and maintaining your wine cellar – which a wine collection is commonly called no matter whether it’s actually been dug into the ground – is in no way difficult, and it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.
There are several advantages of building a good wine collection. It’s easy, educational and doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.
Apart from the obvious advantage of always having the right wine close at hand for any unexpected event demanding you get out the stems, a wine collection is bound to give you educational enjoyment in abundance.
The idea of collecting wines can be divided into two main purposes. One the one hand, it’s great to have a diverse assortment of wines you like. On the other hand, it’s fun to taste the development in wines which have been left for the right moment.
Furthermore, you run the risk of being bitten with the sport of finding the food that goes with your wine, and not the other way around.
Add more than you drink
A classic rule of thumb is the principle of “one out, two in”. Meaning, as soon as you uncork one bottle, you add two new ones to your collection. You don’t need to be a maths professor to work out that you’ll gradually grow your collection while tasting it in that way.
If you haven’t got a wine collection yet, it’s a good idea to start with a couple of bottles which are either a bit pricier or meant for long-term storage.
Help will always be available at your local wine dealer, so you can find the bottles that’ll do well when left to themselves for a couple of years or more.
Favourites and news
If you’re curious about wine, you’ve probably already got an idea of what kind of wines you prefer. It might be a specific grape variety, a country, a district or a type of wine you always seem to be coming back to.
Build a solid selection of your favourites where you vary slightly in relation to vintage, winery and so on. It’s always a pleasure to come back to what you love.
If you enjoy French wines, it’s a good idea to stock up with the classics of Bordeaux, Champagne, Bourgogne and Rhône. It’s also amusing and less costly if you stray off the beaten path for a bit. You’ll find exquisite products in the less sought-after regions such as Loire, Provence, Southern France, Jura, Alsace and so on, and even at a better price because global demand isn’t as heavy in these districts.
The same goes for Italy where you’ll find plenty of gold outside of Piemonte, Veneto and Tuscany. Why not try out the fizzy wines of Franciacorta, Lombardy, which will easily match many champagnes. The crisp white wines of the Tyrol and Friuli are world class, just as the wines of Etna in Sicily are currently experiencing a huge boom (pun totally intended).
If American wines appeal to you, there are plenty of opportunities in the country where the only state that doesn’t produce wine is Alaska.
And, by the by, lots of white wines age well. The dry ones, the sweet ones and the ones with bubbles.
Your taste preferences will change
If you’re keen to try out new things, you’ll notice over time that your taste preferences change along with your level of experience. You simply become more aware of new nuances in the wines you taste. At the same time, you’ll discover new products through wine merchants, the press or your mates.
Many a wine nerd has started off with the vigour of Amarone only to end up with the elegance and subtlety of Champagne and Bourgogne. Just so you’re aware of the risk of your preferences changing.
So, as you can see you’ve struck a dangerous path. In return, your fearlessness will be handsomely rewarded via your glass and your guests tasting happily along.
A sum-up of the advice given:
- One out, two in
- Stick with your favourites while being open to new things
- Spend a bit more on a wine for long-term storage than on a table wine for tonight
- Use your wine merchant and seek knowledge through books and online
Furthermore, we consider it our natural duty to warn you never to fall short on equipment. Especially concerning the way you choose to store your wine, whether it be in a cellar, at the bottom of a wardrobe or in a wine fridge.