How to Start a Small Wine Collection
Starting a wine collection doesn't require a cellar, a large budget, or specialist knowledge. It requires a plan, appropriate storage, and the patience to leave bottles alone.
· 8 min read
Key takeaways
- A wine collection begins with one decision: what kind of collector are you? A drinker-collector and an investor-collector need fundamentally different strategies, budgets, and storage.
- Storage is the non-negotiable prerequisite. A consistent 12–14 °C, appropriate humidity, darkness, and minimal vibration are required. Temperature stability is the most critical variable.
- Start with wines you already drink and enjoy. A collection built around genuine preferences is more sustainable than one built around investment thesis or critical scores.
- Buy horizontally before buying vertically. Three or four bottles of the same wine from the same vintage allows you to track how it develops — far more educational than one bottle of many things.
Frequently asked questions
- How many bottles do you need to have a wine collection?
- There is no minimum. A collection is defined by intent and storage, not quantity. Twelve bottles stored with a plan — specific wines bought for specific reasons, stored appropriately, to be drunk at considered moments — constitutes a collection. Most serious collectors start with twenty to fifty bottles and grow from there. What matters is that you have more wine than you plan to drink immediately, stored in conditions that allow it to develop.
- What wines are best for starting a collection?
- Start with wines you already drink and enjoy, from producers you trust. For reds worth collecting: a village-level red Burgundy from a reliable producer, a quality Côtes du Rhône from a named estate, a young Barolo or Barbaresco, or a classified Bordeaux from a good vintage. For whites: German Riesling Spätlese or Auslese from the Mosel, a white Burgundy from a reputable producer. The key criterion: the wine must be capable of improving with age — most everyday wine does not.
- Can I start a wine collection without a cellar?
- Yes. A temperature-controlled wine cabinet (a dedicated wine fridge) is the most practical solution for apartment living. Units holding twenty to fifty bottles start at CHF 300–500 and maintain the 12–14 °C required for proper aging. For a larger collection, professional wine storage services exist in Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and other major Swiss cities — these offer bonded storage with full provenance documentation, appropriate for investment-grade bottles.
- How long should I age wine before drinking it?
- It depends entirely on the wine. Everyday drinking wine is meant to be consumed within one to three years of vintage. Most village-level Burgundy peaks at five to ten years. Classified Bordeaux from good vintages peaks at twelve to twenty years. Barolo from great vintages can develop for twenty to thirty years. The producer's technical sheet usually provides a drinking window; the importer or merchant can advise for specific bottles. The general rule: if in doubt, wait.
Not sure which wine to pick? Tell our sommelier what you are eating or the occasion and we will find the right bottle — or browse the full sommelia.ch collection.