Definition: building your wine cellar

The wine cellar of the happy wine lover (photo). You never know in advance when you will need a particular wine. On a beautiful summer evening, with refreshing dishes, you realise that a rosé wine would have been the ideal accompaniment. However, most wine lovers do not buy rosés. Yet it is an irreplaceable wine in a good cellar. A respectable wine cellar must be well diversified. In a sense, you should consider your collection of bottles as an investment portfolio, given that, when it comes to wine, it is the aromas that are your liquid assets!

Many wine lovers often invest in a single segment of a vast market. There is a danger in putting all your eggs in one basket. If your cellar is too focused on one category and style of wine, you will lose out on global varieties and taste education, which is essential for developing your palate. Think about it: with time and experience, your tastes will evolve.
When building your collection, you will want to acquire a few star wines that have received the highest ratings and been praised by critics. These will include classified Bordeaux wines, wines from the Rhône Valley, fine wines from California, Brunello di Montalcino and other Sauternes and vintage ports.
While most of these wines have become expensive, even reaching exorbitant prices, there is still a wide selection available at very reasonable prices. They are often mentioned in specialist magazines such as Wine Spectator: "the best at £20 and under", or in the Revue du Vin de France, etc.
When you discover a great wine at a good price, the best strategy is to buy it by the case. It is often a shame not to consider a region just because it lacks premier cru wines. Take Italian Piedmont as another example: if Barolo and Barbaresco wines are beyond your budget, don't hesitate to consider other red wines from Piedmont, such as Barbera, Dolcetto and Nebbiolo, whose grape varieties are also found in the very finest Piedmont wines.
Furthermore, if the premier appellations are beyond your budget, there are less prestigious appellations whose best wines are still excellent.
Another very concrete example: if you find Burgundy unaffordable, choose Beaujolais wines, or even excellent Pinot Noirs from Oregon. For Merlot, don't hesitate to try the magnificent wines of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland, or the splendid Syrah grape varieties from Valais, also in Switzerland.
If you are not at all familiar with a particular region, don't hesitate to buy a few bottles to educate yourself about wine. Over time, you will enjoy playing this game and expanding your knowledge.
For everyday white wines, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Gewürztraminer offer excellent value for money and pleasure, while for red wines, Cabernet Franc (Chinon, Bourgueil, etc.), Sangiovese (Chianti) and Zinfandel (California) are good choices. The list is far from exhaustive.
Also bear in mind that prices rise in line with demand. It is often profitable to stray from the major market trends. There are also some very good deals to be had on lesser quality vintages.
This diversity will make you an experienced buyer.
The website of the Club des Amateurs de Vins Exquis (CAVE) offers a model for building your wine cellar at the link below. Alternatively, you can ask them for advice: