So, you've been drinking wine for a while now, and have decided it is time to start stocking a cellar of your own - but how do you begin? 

It seems like a daunting task, but by following a few simple guidelines you can soon be on your way to having a well-stocked cellar to enjoy for years to come and in time you'll be drinking vintage wine from your own collection.

The following guidelines are set for the casual to serious wine enthusiast who wishes to stock a personal cellar, not for those who wish to stock a cellar for investment purposes.

1.  Set a monthly budget for wine purchases and adhere to it as strictly as possible.  This budget is solely for the wines you will store for 1 - 10 + years.  This does not include your every day drinking wines.

2. Set your purchases into two groups.
     A. Two-thirds of the monthly purchases should be wines you will store from 1 - 3 years
     B. One-third of the wines will be stored for  3 - 10 + years.

3.  On average, by dollars spent, the 1 - 3 year category should take up two-thirds of your budget, and the wines to store for 3 - 10 + years will take up one-third of your budget. 

4.  Whenever possible, buy wines by the case to take advantage of case discount prices.  This can add up to a tremendous savings over the course of time.

5.  Educate yourself to know the better vintages.  When buying wine to store, a mediocre vintage will usually not improve much with age.  So read, read, read!

6.  Wines to purchase for aging 3 + years should generally include higher quality California Cabernet, better quality Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Rhone Valley wines from France, Italian Borolos and Super Tuscans. (Purchase all these styles from the better vintages)

7.  Most wines do not benefit from aging more than 1 - 3 years.  These include most Zinfandels, most American Merlots, and most white wines (other than White Burgundy from France).  Wines from Spain, Chile, and Australia usually (not always)  fall into this category as well.

8.  Of all the wines you buy to hold, purchase what you like to drink.  

9.  Attend wine tastings.  We cannot stress this enough!  Many stores have in store tastings that are either very inexpensive or are often free!  By trying several wines in this fashion, you are more likely to spend your budgeted money on bottles that you will truly enjoy.

10.  Build a good relationship with one or two wine retailers and make friends with the wine manager.  You should feel free to ask questions and receive recommendations from this person.  If you are not satisfied with the salespeople in any store, then find a store where you are. However, know what style of wine you like and be knowledgeable enough to define it to the salesperson.  Once a relationship is built up with the wine manager he/she will know your likes and dislikes and be will able to recommend new wines that suit your taste.

11.  Finally, never pass up the opportunity to stop in at small, out-of-the-way wine stores.  Some of our best purchases have been made this way.  You never know where you may find a gem of a wine!