Getting Started: Find a local wine shop!
The Thinker:
When I first started to consider building a modest home wine cellar – I really had no compass on how to move forward. Had I visited vineyards – yes. Had I bought and consumed copious amounts of wine – yes. But I had never actually put any thought into what it would take to build out the beginnings of a collection. The infrastructure (wine fridge, temperature, racks, humidity) would all come later. I needed to learn what was great to drink and what was worth collecting.
We are very fortunate to have an amazing local wine shop. Harry’s Wine & Liquor Shop has been in our community since 1941 (https://www.harryswine.com) and are considered one of the authorities in our region on wine collection, pairings & hard to find vintages.
Did I mention they ship!!!!
Having previously used them for special event parties, I thought they might be the right place to start. They steered me in the right direction when purchasing cases of wine for events gently reminding me to take into consideration the taste of all attendees and how to keep cost factor in play as well.
Last July, I walked in with nothing more than, I’m looking to start a wine collection for my wife as a Christmas present and want to buy 4-6 bottles per month from June through December. I was looking to form the basis of a collection (bottles $40-$100 USD) but needed feedback and guidance.
During that initial visit I met one of the owners/fine wine director. I described what I was looking to do (somewhat sheepishly) and how much I wanted to spend and when. Without blinking an eye, he shared my enthusiasm for the project and assured me I could achieve all of my goals and within my prince point. Never any pressure – never any snobbish reaction when I bought yet another bottle of Matua. The whole team were partners in my little project and became friends.
Step 1: Finding a trusted wine shop is critical to the success of any collection. Can you buy online – yes, can you buy through a vineyard – yes. But you miss that connection and relationship. The excitement of when a new vintage comes into the shop. The chase of tracking down a rare vintage.
Step 2: Focus on where you love for wine resides but challenge yourself. Love Napa Chardonnay – awesome. Love the bubbly – even better! But balance it out. Explore. Find value especially if you are building a collection. If your goal is to drink the wine within 30 days of purchase we are not really building a collection. I was looking for vineyards & vintages that could be put away for anywhere between 5-30 years.
Step 3: Take care of your wine. Purchase that wine fridge ( more to come in future post). Store the wine correctly and watch humidity/temperature (more to come).
Step 4: Enjoy the process. This is supposed to be fun. And it can be – you will learn a lot and have some stumbles. Wine like relationships is not always perfect!
Best,
Thinker
