The benefits of working with a dedicated specialist to build your cellar
Starting a fine wine cellar can be a big undertaking. Wine is complicated, with many thousands of different producers, hundreds of regions and a new vintage every year. Knowing where to begin is a challenge in itself though you don’t have to face it alone. Any collector will tell you that working with a dedicated wine specialist is worth their weight in gold.
With your own account manager from Vintage Cellar, for example, you have a knowledgeable, approachable expert on hand to help you make the right decision. Someone to give you the low-down on the latest vintage of Burgundy, Barolo or Brunello di Montalcino: an informed specialist with an ear to the ground, and an ability to filter through the noise. They can identify the latest trends and opportunities, spotting emerging regions or underrated vintages where there is still value for money.
An expert in your pocket
Even if you focus on just one or two regions Bordeaux and Burgundy, for example there’s a lot to know. Two or three hundred châteaux make most of Bordeaux’s top wine. The region is famed for its vintage variation, too. There can be huge differences in the style and quality of one château’s wine from one year to the next. Burgundy is even more complicated. The vineyards here are broken up into tiny little parcels, owned by thousands of individual growers.
And that’s just two regions. Elsewhere in France, you’ve got Champagne, ranging from tiny Burgundian-style growers all the way up to the world-famous houses and prestige cuvées like Krug and Cristal. The Rhône and the Loire Valleys are home to some fine, seriously collectible reds and whites. There are icons in the Jura and the South of France. For a balanced cellar, you should also look to the best of Italy and Spain, as well as Germany, Portugal and beyond.
California has been the bedrock of US fine wine for a long time, notably the Napa Valley. But it has big competition from Oregon, Washington and more. Some of the finest wines anywhere are coming from places like South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina.
There’s so much to know, truly. But if you don’t have the time or inclination to take wine classes or bury your nose in a textbook, you don’t have to. Your dedicated account manager knows the wine world intimately and will be only too happy to share that with you.
Find new favourites
It’s not just about finding someone who knows their stuff. You want someone who’ll get to know you and your tastes.
It’s all well and good if the latest Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon scored 100 points; if you don’t like this style of wine, it just won’t be right for you. By working with a specialist, you can explore your tastes to find something new, whether that’s a producer, a style or a region.
Maybe you like red Burgundy but you’re looking for an alternative. Your specialist can help you find the most suitable wines, be they from the Jura or the Loire, Germany, Oregon or New Zealand.
Privileged access
A dedicated expert can get you access to top wines you couldn’t otherwise find. Most of the world’s finest wines are made in relatively limited quantities with tightly controlled supply.
There is never enough of the most sought-after wines to meet demand. This is where the relationships and trust that come with a dedicated expert begin to pay dividends. Top buyers and brokers like Vintage Cellar have longstanding relationships, built up over years, that afford access to the hardest-to-find wines, and often at the most competitive prices. This kind of access is hard, if not impossible, to find yourself unless you’ve been buying certain wines for years already.
Tips, guidance and advice
Having access to your own personal wine cellar advisor is a big plus, too. Never again will you have to worry about knowing the right time to buy, drink or hold a wine. Your account manager knows the market well, understands the nuance and the detail. Outside of advice on what to buy and when, they can also advise you on the best restaurant wine lists in your city, or picking the best wine for a special occasion or what to pair with a certain dish.
Find out more about collecting wine with Vintage Cellar.
