Organizing Your Wine Collection

Was your resolution for the new year to be more organized? If so, we have a few tips to help you get your wine collection in order for 2019 and beyond.

How and where you store your wine will largely depend on the size of your collection. If it is small to medium, a wine refrigerator may be the best option. Medium to large collections may require a wine cabinet. Larger collections will need a wine cellar. You may also go the simplest route and place your bottles in a cool and dark space such as a basement or unused closet that is free from regular foot traffic, sunlight, and temperature fluctuations.

Create a System

Once you have a home for your wine, you will want to sort your collection in a way that makes it easy to find a bottle. Here are a few ways you may consider organizing your wine:

• Red, white, or sparkling: Create a row for red, one for white, and another for sparkling. By separating your wine into categories, you can easily see exactly what you have and if you have excess of one particular type.
• By region: If you are lucky enough to build a global collection, you may find it helpful to divide your wine by region and then by grape varietal.
• By grape: For larger collections, you may want to separate your wine by Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Syrah, etc.
• Drink-by-Date: Ensure you are uncorking your wine at its peak by organizing based on drink-by-date. Separate the wine that must be opened soon in a separate area such as a wall-mounted wine rack or a wine refrigerator.

Label Your Wine

Now that your bottles are sorted, label them so that you can find bottles easily without having to pull out every bottle. On each label add information such as the varietal, origin, and/or year. Here are a few options:

Reusable Wine Tag Reusable wine tags that hang from the neck of the bottle are the simplest and most popular way to label wine.	Non-Permanent Marker If you are storing wine in a wine refrigerator, an easy solution is to label the rack using a non-permanent marker or chalk pen.	Rack Clip Another labeling option is to add a rack clip directly to the rack and label using a non-permanent pen.

Take Inventory

If you have a large collection, it’s important to keep notes so you remember exactly what you have on hand. You can use a notebook or excel spreadsheet to keep track of details such as the exact row and cubicle where each wine is located, the vintage, when it should be uncorked, and your tasting notes so you know whether or not to invest in more bottles. There are also many digital programs and apps available that will allow you to access your inventory from your smart phone.

Make it Your Own

Whether you decide to invest in a full inventory system or find it easiest to store wine you drink most frequently towards the entrance of your wine cellar, staying organized is the best way to ensure you are getting the best use of your wine collection. There is a lot of advice out there about how to keep your collection organized, but it is important to pick a method you can sustain long term.

Vinotemp offers a wide variety of storage options from wine refrigerators to wine racks. We also offer many labeling options. Shop our selection 24/7 at www.vinotemp.com or contact us with our Contact Form.