The first of the year inspires me to set goals and get organized for the new year. With these aspirations, include my wine collection.
It's impossible to give definitive advice about what to keep, what to drink and what we keep a romantic connection to -- but the wine itself is the most important objective.
• Whether your collection is as simple as 10 to 12 bottles or comprised of hundreds in a custom-built cellar, the first organizing strategy is ensuring you're keeping the bottles in optimal conditions. There are many rules regarding cellar conditions but the most important is making sure the bottles are not in direct sunlight or close to heat. A wine rack in the corner of a room away from a heating vent and bright sunlight or even a dark corner of your closet are good options for small collections. In general, temperature is not a problem unless your location rises above 75 degrees.
• Next, check the vintages of your collection. Most wines are meant to be consumed within one year or so after release and bottling. Just because a wine you were given has an intimidating French label or was a gift from a wine enthusiast, very few wines will improve with age. Generally, they will not improve with time but deteriorate, losing their fresh, crisp characteristics. Look at wines you have over 3 years old and re-access if these are simple wines to be consumed now versus those you know will improve with age.
• Keeping track of your wines is one of the most important keys in managing your collection. Make a list of the wines you have on hand and when you bought them. This can help save you from the disappointment of discovering a wine has gone bad because it was being saved for the special occasion that never came. We've come a long way since the time of cellar books and wine bottle tags in hand-written fashion. The wine world is actively embracing technology and home collectors can use these advanced tracking devices to keep wines organized and managed. Tech savvy options include the smartphone apps Cellar, Cellartracker, Snooth Wine Pro and VinoCellar.
• Once you have have determined the wines needing to be consumed and enjoyed -- take the time to plan these occasions. Keep it simple with just a hang tag on the bottles with the occasions you have in mind: 20-year anniversary, Dad's birthday next year, Christmas 2018 or just a snowy, rainy day over a pot of chili.
• Finally, arrange the bottles into everyday drinking wines and wines for occasions so all of your hard organizing work isn't wasted. But be sure to leave some space for new additions to your collection, as with the new year many local wine retailers will offer in-store specials.
Lorri Hambuchen is a member of London's Institute of Wines and Spirits. Contact her at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203, or email:
uncorked@thewinecenter.com
Food on 01/03/2018