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Say Salut to your New Insta' WINE CELLAR!

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MOVIN' ON UP TO A NEW CRIB OFTEN MEANS FILLING THAT SHOWY BUILT-IN WINE CELLAR. HINSDALE CELLARS FEELS YOUR OENOPHILISTIC PAIN
by Lesley Scott, Editor in Chief, Fashiontribes.com
Photo: CountryLoftAntiques.com

"Architects and upscale homebuilders decided at some point that everybody needs a wine cellar, and it is apparent that buyers of luxury homes are not resisting the trend," notes Steve Woodward of Hinsdale.com, a premium wine & luxury lifestyle site. "A wine cellar is a showcase, a destination for guests, if it is occupied by exceptional wine. Without the wine, it's another closet, albeit a climate controlled one."

Many new homeowners are now faced with the daunting challenge of populating large, showcase wine cellars on their own. "That's easy for the established collector and connoisseur, who simply transfers existing inventory to a new, presumably larger, cellar and tracks additional selections as usual," says Woodward. "But there are many more aspiring collectors who appreciate and purchase fine wine yet lack the time or patience to populate a cellar." To help the hapless, Hinsdale recently upgraded introduced a Private Steward program which gives wine lovers access to their experienced experts in order to devise a do-able strategy for stocking and maintaining a world-class residential wine cellar.

To get your own new cellar stocked and ready for that inaugural dinner party, Hinsdale recommends this plan of attack:

1. ESTABLISH YOUR LIKES & DISLIKES The wine universe is vast. Narrow the options by listing your specific dislikes or turn-offs (if you hate Sauvignon Blanc, don’t be shy) which can include types of wine varietals, winemaking regions and price thresholds.

2. HOW LONG TIL PARTY TIME? If your objective is simply to fill an 800-bottle cellar as quickly as possible with wine that your guests will generally enjoy, then focus more on availability and volume. If one premium Pinot Noir from one of the leading Santa Barbara wineries is in short supply but a nearby winery has released ample supplies of an underrated and slightly less expensive Pinot, it's a no-brainer if you’re on a party deadline. If you want your collection to evolve organically, then you can afford to be more selective and patient.

3. PLAN YOUR QUAFFING QUOTA Figure out a wine “budget” in advance: how much of your stash you plan to drink, give as gifts, serve at parties, and age or set aside as a financial investment.

4. MAKE AN INVENTORY LIST Once the wine shipments start arriving, make sure you have a system ready to log everything: origin of the grapes & the wine’s identity; the winemaker's philosophies and how they are reflected in the wine; facts about the growing season that produced the grapes; information about various wineries and their heritage; and reviews by the industry's most respected critics.

5. THE DAY-TO-DAY DETAILS To keep abreast of your inventory levels, bin labeling, collection appraisals, temperature and moisture settings; and insurance coverage options, Hinsdale advises turning to experts like Cellar Advisors, which specialize in cellar management. (Cellar Advisors founder Marc Lazar is a regular contributor to HinsdaleCellars.com).

Or, if this all seems a bit much, let one of their experts do all the legwork for you, leaving you to ponder only the vital dilemmas: which bottle do I feel like opening today?

For more info, visit HinsdaleCellars.com

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