Fever-dream Philosophies on Wine Cellaring
Disclaimer: This article asks more questions that it answers and is probably the world's worst guide to cellaring wine
It’s currently day 12 of the uber-lurgy sweeping through our household and defining 2025.
And whilst trying to care for a virus-riddled 6-month-old might normally drive one to drink, the idea of anything other than coffee, hot lemon and ginger, or water passing my lips gives me even more shivers than I already have.
In my dazed state I started imagining about how best to organise my cellar – since I can’t drink it, I’ve been daydreaming about organising it.
Thinking about it has provoked me to ask myself some greater questions about wine and my relationship with it. Fever-dream philosophy of wine and some general musings below…
1. Have I changed my definition of fine wine?
The wines I have amassed over the years are not necessarily all the finest of wines (remember, I work in the notoriously poorly paid wine trade!)
I have a few diamonds, but I also have plenty of rough. So, one big question I’ve had is where do I draw the line? What is my own personal ‘everyday drinking’ catchment, versus what I would class as a fine wine for special occasions. In short, which wines can I give my husband an all access pass to, and which should be put in the restricted section?
I know that over the past 10 years that line in the sand has moved significantly as I’ve come to appreciate wine more, opening a £15 bottle of wine on a weekday became the norm when I know that for many that would be a treat. But now, as we set about saving money to restart the house renovation, and we live in a wine region, should I be lowering that limit? Surely €10 of duty-free French wine is plenty… Can one ever really go ‘backwards’?
2. If I have 6+ bottles of something, should I crack on or save it for a group? And what the heck do I do with single bottles?
I always battle with this. In its basest form, supply and demand kicks in. The more I have of something, the more readily my brain seems to ‘give it away’ to guests. But the less I have of it, the more I hang on.
Subsequently, my cellar is awash with solo bottles – not necessarily all that special, but hung onto because once gone, it’s truly gone. It’s the beauty of wine, but it sure as hell makes for an ugly cellar.
I like to think it makes me some sort of ‘wine preserver’; in reality, I think it’s a hoarding disorder. Should probably address this in 2025. Should also probably just drink the wine. Life is too short.
3. What categories do I create to organise the chaos?
Surely the ultimate question, but under the surface it’s had me asking lots of questions about how I consume my wine.
The natural choice would be to organise by region, and another viable option would be grape variety.
But, I couldn’t help thinking, would it not be more helpful (for my husband certainly) to categorise by style? He and I make our drinking choices by style… We say ‘I feel like a light red’ before venturing downstairs to the cellar to pick something out. Sure, I know that I would grab a Gamay or a Pinot Noir, maybe even a Californian modern-style Grenache, or a Chilean Cinsault.
So, by organising by region are we creating an environment that favours traditional regions and/or traditional grapes and styles? Even just by the nature of the organising, are we stereotyping and not allowing out brain to think to go to California, for example, when searching for a light wine?
Jury is still out on this one, anyone who has done something similar – please reach out!
4. Should I track the prices of the decent bottles I have?
Perhaps the most polarising question… It probes discussion on what your definition of value is and on why you buy wines to age.
Full disclosure, I don’t plan to sell any of the wines in my cellar – I bought them as a personal investment; a future gift to myself. Even the wines I have in professional storage are going to make their way to me when they’re ready. I have never invested in wine and I’m not sure I ever will. (See note earlier about being poor.)
So, if I were to track the price, what good does that do? Perhaps it helps me work out how ‘appropriate’ a wine Is for an occasion? I’m not sure it does. I’ve drunk £20 wines with my husband on an unimportant Saturday that taste better than an £80 wine we had saved for a special occasion. Do I have a certain price tag for different friends? My best doesn’t know much about wine, so what’s her price cap? Do I open something cheap because she wouldn’t know, compared to someone I love less but who knows more and would be able to guess the RRP of the bottle? Is that how we see value? I’m not sure it’s healthy (for me at least) to keep track of those figures, I would rather pick a wine without numbers based on the occasion, the food and the friends.
Also, I’ve recently taken to googling the price of something after I’ve opened it. I don’t recommend that either… You either don’t think it’s worth it, or wish you’d bought more. It’s a lose-lose game.
So where am I now? Well, given that I don’t have enough strength to lift much more than a cup of coffee and a 7.5kg child, I’ve not braved lifting any boxes in the cellar.
I will continue to ponder on the questions above, and let you know how I get on!
Love this Anna, I too am a “wine hoarder” and equally I don’t keep track of what a bottles “current” value is . If I want to drink it or share with friends, then I do ! I always buy wine to drink and not invest .
My only rule is that my husband has to consult with the boss before opening a bottle . 😂