Wine collecting as a Hobby

 

Every wine lover once dreamed of a cava overflowing with bottles and where to uncork their favorite wines. Even many would change other pleasures for that of a collection of labels. This hobby, which some believe is exclusive of millionaires, begins to mark a trend among local wine lovers who already fulfilled their illusion.

Now, whether or not it is about magnates it is important to have some considerations so as not to fail in the attempt.

Where to store my bottles although having a wide and underground space that allows regulating naturally the temperature and humidity is the fantasy of many, today there are accessories and artifacts that allow turning any space into an ideal cava.

 

The important thing, whatever the opportunity of the collector, is that an exclusive space is allocated for the wines so that they are not at risk of contamination, breakage or alterations.

Test, and then save. It is common for a collection to start with an exclusive bottle that needs stowing time before being uncorked. However, it is always recommended to treasure those wines that are known and can be trusted with their aging potential.

 

If you experiment blindly, you run the risk of not achieving good results and, to top it off, keep the intrigue of how good that bottle was.

What if, what not. Among the aspects that should be addressed, for example, is the plugging. For long pallets, it is recommended to look for wines with natural cork since in this way the wine ensures its evolution. Wines with a screwcap are not good for stowing.

 

The reds with barrel aging usually support better the passage of time since the oak provides tannins that contribute to aging. Among the red varieties, the ideal ones are Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Tannat, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

 

Since that cuts with some of the strains too. Pinot Noir also promises good results only that they are wines that time softens more than others and not all palates end up understanding them.

Whites too. Most collectors think that the only wines that can be aged are red wines; however, more than one white would surprise them. Among these the most formidable cases are with Chardonnay and if it was fermented or aged in barrels much better.

 

Just as reds should be grateful for their potential for tannins, alcohol, and acidity, whites have the ideal acidity for this. Other strains that ensure good results are Viognier, Riesling, and Semillon.

Immortal sparkling. Wines with bubbles are others that can steal smiles over time. These, elaborated by cutting inks and white in addition to having a high level of acidity, absorb from yeasts the necessary substance to withstand the passage of time.

 

In fact, the great sparklers of the world are refined over the years and the guardian always awakens hypnotic nuances.

Control. As the bottle is piled up, not only the collector's pride grows, but also his responsibilities. A collection of wines demands order and periodic checks to ensure that wines do not go bad.

 

Regarding the order is important to have identified the bottles so as not to have to fuss all when looking for a particular label.

Tips To Develop Your Own Wine Collection 

For this, you basically need two things: the chosen wines and the place where to put them. Logically, the problem is to have the money to buy what is necessary. But let's pretend that this is not a problem, and let's continue thinking about how to make our own wine collection.

 

If you want to own your own wine collection, we bring you some useful tips to keep in mind.

• First step: Determine the size of the hold. It is useless to have a huge basement if one consumes 10 bottles a year. You have to think first about how much is consumed annually, how many wines one is willing to take care of, and how much time one will have to devote to the care of this collection.

 

Let's not forget that a very important factor in the wine collection is time. It is also convenient to consider the budget that one has.

• Second: Storage requirements. A warehouse must meet certain requirements to be in the right conditions. It is useless to have a lot of grouped bottles if the place where they are is not with the right humidity and temperature.

• Third: Define the preference diversity. What types of wine do I have in the collection for long-term storage?

• Fourth: Define purchasing criteria. The wine that we buy must follow certain criteria. As we said, some agree more than others, since not all wines improve with age.

 

We must focus on the quality of the producers and verify if the harvest that has been purchased has been good.

 

These objectives can be established in two criteria: By regions (wine category, varieties, color, type, quality), by probable aging period (that is, time of better maturation), by dates in which I intend to consume it, by cost, by size of the bottle, or favoritism (that is, those we have saved for a certain occasion such as anniversaries, marriages, etc.).

• Fifth: Develop a good source where to buy them. Much of the effort is avoided if we have a trusted person to advise us. A good retailer advises and recommends us when it is business and when it is not.

• Sixth: Savor before buying. Always follow personal tastes, beyond what the critics say or the score given to the wine. Whenever possible, we must follow the palate. In short, we are the ones who will consume it.

• Seventh: Think about your purchases in the future. It is also true that your preferences may change over time. It is not necessary to fill the warehouse in six months.

 

A rash purchase runs risks of overcharging or bad purchases. The ideal would be to buy new bottles every year and place them on the bottom.

• Eighth: Pay according to what is worth. The "offers" are usually not good counselors. It is very frustrating to open a wine after 10 years of keeping it and take care of it to take away a disappointment and realize that the wine was to be consumed at the time of purchase.

• Ninth: an annual evaluation. Year after year measure the progress of your collection. Check your objectives. You can also consider selling those wines that over time no longer match your tastes if the result has been favorable.

• Tenth: Sell the wines regularly. This is not a bad idea because although most collectors think that they will never sell their bottles, as their tasting experience grows and their tastes evolve, they realize that some wines are more advantageous to sell and buy more wines.

 

 

 

 

Related hobbies: Tasting , Bartending , Homebrewing

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