14 January 2008 by Sandy Hemphill
“I’ll Get the Good Stuff from the Cellar”
Haven’t you always wanted to say those words about a treasured collection of dusty wine bottles nestled snugly underground in a dank and chilly cave? I have!
Unfortunately, I don’t have a dank and chilly underground cave to convert into a state of the art wine cellar for all those dusty bottles so I’ve had to improvise. It’s easy and you can do it, too.
All you need is a little bit of space that’s out of a main traffic zone in your home. A lot of disturbance – doors banging open and closed, constant shifting and shuffling – isn’t good for long-term storage of wine.
You’ll want to avoid direct sunlight. The darker the storage area, the better.
You’ll also want to avoid extremes and fluctuations of temperature and humidity. Don’t set up a wine cellar in the kitchen, bathroom, or garage.
You’ll need just enough space to store your wine collection so that all the bottles can be placed on their sides instead of standing upright. On their sides, wine will always remain in contact with the cork, keeping it swollen for a tight seal. When corks dry out, they shrink, allowing oxygen to seep into the bottle and spoil the wine.
Here’s a list of suggestions for a well-rounded wine cellar. No specific brands are included so there’s freedom to buy whatever is available in your area and your price range.
One thing about prices, too. Most wine merchants, including many supermarkets, offer case discounts, which can be as little as 10% or as much as 20%. The discount covers the cost of a collection of 12 bottles of wine, assorted or all the same, as you choose. Depending upon the price range of the bottles you select, the discount is the equivalent of getting one, two, or more bottles free.
For one case of wine, consider this assortment:
- 1 champagne or sparkling wine
- 2 French reds (Burgundy and/or Bordeaux)
- 1 Alsatian white (Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Moselle, etc.)
- 2 Chardonnays
- 1 alternative white (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Semillon, etc.)
- 1 rosé or other light red (Beaujolais, Gamay)
- 1 Pinot Noir
- 2 heartier reds (Syrah/Shiraz, Zinfandel, Merlot, Chianti, Barolo, etc.)
- 1 fortified wine (sherry, port, Madeira, marsala, etc.)
For two cases, consider:
- 3 champagne or sparkling wines
- 2 French Burgundies
- 2 French Bordeaux
- 2 Alsatian whites (Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Moselle, etc.)
- 4 Chardonnays
- 3 alternative whites (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Semillon, etc.)
- 1 rosé or other light red (Beaujolais, Gamay)
- 2 Pinot Noir
- 4 heartier reds (Syrah/Shiraz, Zinfandel, Merlot, Chianti, Barolo, etc.)
- 1 fortified wine (sherry, port, Madeira, marsala, etc.)
For three cases, consider:
- 4 champagne or sparkling wines
- 3 French Burgundies
- 3 French Bordeaux
- 4 Alsatian whites (Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Moselle, etc.)
- 4 Chardonnays
- 5 alternative whites (Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Semillon, etc.)
- 2 rosé or other light red (Beaujolais, Gamay)
- 3 Pinot Noir
- 6 heartier reds (Syrah/Shiraz, Zinfandel, Merlot, Chianti, Barolo, etc.)
- 2 fortified wines (sherry, port, Madeira, marsala, etc.)
These lists represent a wide assortment of wines, some of which you may not be familiar with or would not otherwise choose. The beauty of a wine cellar is that you will develop an impressive assortment of wines that will suit any occasion or menu, even if it is one that only happens rarely.
Have fun with your selections. Mix up wines from around the world. For example, when choosing the six heartier reds, choose a Shiraz from California and one from Australia. Add a Chilean, a Spanish, and two Italian reds.
Once you’ve established a basic collection, your own drinking habits and preferences will determine when and how much to restock. Always remember, though, that experimenting with new wines is highly educational and lots of fun. Don’t get stuck in a rut of only the familiar.
With an interesting assortment of treasures hidden away for just the right moment, you’ll always have the pleasure of saying you’ll go get the good stuff from the cellar.