A Word On Wine

A Word on Wine

Once the pastime of aficionados with expendable income, wine collecting has now become a hobby enjoyed by enthusiasts everywhere. Nowadays any novice connoisseu with the right amount of savvy and research can find great deals on quality wine and start a collection that will mature over time. Inaugurating this collection does not require a large sum of cash and after all, it is always more economical to buy in bulk.

Where to start?

Defining wine collecting goals is the easiest and most economical way to start your wine collection. Most people decide to collect wine either for pleasure or profit. While serious investors can expect good return on their collection over the years, expect a certain investment, on your part, of money as well as time. There are numerous reasons for collecting, explains Iain McKenzie from Vino Veritas wine merchants. People collect for pure enjoyment of wine; to store it away for celebrations, anniversaries, wines from year of birth etc; for investment - over time, wines from each vintage become more scarce and subsequently fetch very high prices; and some wines, especially from the 'Old World', actually require ageing to really experience the best that the wine has to offer.

What to Collect?

The easiest way to begin a wine collection is to start with wines that you enjoy and are familiar with. Most everyday drinking wines are not really made for long term cellaring but work well at the introductory stage.

In assembling bottles for your collection, experts suggest maintaining a balance between New Age wine from nations such as Australia, Old World wine from Europe, readyt-to-drink wine unfit for long-term storage, and dessert wine. The type and intensity of flavours will vary from one style to the next and some will develop with age. Many wines that may seem mediocre upon release can improve over time while others will diminish in quality.

With a wide variety of wines available in the Cayman Islands there are several ways in which to collect, explains Iain. Talk to your wine distributor and ask for recommendations, or research wine on the Internet. There are literally millions web sites, which offer advice on style, age and collectability of wine.

having tried a wine and researched its ageing prospects decide upon your budget and buy a case (or two). Many wine producers now offer their wines for sale prerelease or en primeur. The wine is actually still in the barrel and not yet complete with the winemaking process but critics will have the chance to taste the wine at this stage and recommend whether the wine looks promising. The price asked for primeur wines is usually less than the pric of the wine when it is released. This is not only a saving financially but you are guaranteed to buy into the wine before it sells out.

Another interesting aspect of wine collections that Iain recommends are called verticals. Simply, verticals are collections of the same wine from the same producer but from different vintages, he explains. Wine collections become more valuable and desirable with the inclusion of verticals.

Storage

No matter what your motive is for collecting, allocating space for storage is very important in the Tropics as heat will cause premature ageing, oxidation, and, in excess, will actually cook the wine causing degredation of aromas and flavours.

Iain recommends a temperature controlled environment - approximately 60?F, no direct sunlight and dry conditions as humidity can wreak havoc on your collection.

While it is no longer necessary to develop a certifiable cellar to ensure that your collection is properly stored maintaining these conditions is vital. Nowadays there are many different options available from a simple, inexpensive wine fridge to specialised dedicated rooms/cellars with temperature and humidity control. Even a dark closet or cabinet can serve as a substitute. A simple but elegant wine rack is a good idea to store wine in a safe yet accessible place.

If you intend to become a serious collector, you should catalogue your wine and take note of its expected life. Attach a sticker to the top of the bottle denoting the year of expiration. Remember the essence of wine collecting is in the appreciation you develop for each bottle. Once you develop the knowledge about how to assemble a fine collection, wine collecting will prove to be a very gratifying experience.