Page 135 - Cool Britannia

135Many of us already know the joy that collecting wine can bring. From watching a collection grow to fnding new, exclusive wines to add to your impressive assortment, having a wine collection in your home is a great way to truly enjoy your passion for wine.However, if you have yet to start your wine collecting journey and need a few directions on how to set off on the right foot then following these ten tips would be very sage advice. If you are interested in collecting wine, here are a couple of easy steps to start you off on the right track:4 Initial value mattersNot all wines are age worthy. So consider frst your initial wine collection and select wines that are suitable for aging. This will require a bit of research. To have a really interesting collection it is worth looking beyond the classics.5 Save all documentationThe original purchase receipt, the original auction text, the card of the person who sold it to you…everything. Additionally, write a detailed description of the bottle including any marks that make yours unique. Keep these documents as you would your valuable wine: safely stored and cataloged. This is very important for all sorts of collecting (in-original-box, for example), but especially in collecting wine. 6 Routinely have your wine collection appraisedCollector markets can be extremely volatile, so it’s good to have a record over time of what sort of value you are sitting on. Also, accidents happen, so if your cellar burns down and you hope to collect any insurance on your rare goods, they’d better be well documented with recent values attached. Take note of how long wines last and when they peak, research the age worthiness of your wine. The winemaker and wine websites will be able to provide you with the information you need for your wine. 7 Do not overly handle your winesI know you want to show off, but that’s what all that documentation is good for. Let your bottles sleep, don’t ship them unless you have to, and keep clumsy heavy handlers away from your bottles. If you have recently obtained a very old wine, let it sit for 4-6 weeks before even thinking of drinking it. Wine is very sensitive to movement. 8 If it’s too good to be true, it usually isWine is one of the easiest collectibles to fake, since old bottles are not nearly as diffcult to come by as old bottles full of old wine. Don’t be duped, don’t buy an 1860s vintage Champagne out of a van, but know a deal when you see it. 9 Start smallYour wine collection doesn’t need to start at a blue-chip Sotheby’s auction. Wherever you live there will be wine collector groups, local auctions, and informed individuals that can help you down the path to collecting wine you want. Remember, you’re not impressing anyone. 10 Don’t lose focus on what you likeThis is possibly the most important tip. Trends drive markets, but you are collecting wine because you have a particular passion. Do not get the two confused. Buy, store, and drink what you like. A trend can guide you toward a possible investment, but always buy what you would like to drink.1 Understand your budgetThe cost of collecting does not stop at the initial purchase. You need to invest in proper storage, insurance, documentation, security, there really is no limit to what you could spend at the outset.2 Keep track of what you haveHopefully there is some order to your storage. At a minimum, you need to know where each bottle is and how many you have. There is software for this, or you can keep a notebook, but you need to do it. It’s ok to drink, just note that you did so in your paperwork…ideally with detailed tasting notes. You are, after all, a notable wine collector. Wine collecting isn’t a one off hobby, your collection will evolve over time and keeping track of what you like and don’t like, will result in your having an outstanding tailor made collection to suit your palate. 3 Invest in a worthy cellarWine–especially old wine–needs to be very carefully handled. Wine likes to be stored in a cool humid environment with a consistent temperature. Consider this environment if you are planning on making your cellar…you could be introducing a mold problem into your house by having it sit on top of a moisture flled cellar. The best cellars are detached, well insulated, and secure. If this seems like too much investment and inconvenience to start with, store your wines with a reputable bonded warehouse facility.