I HAVE A MAJOR CASE of vinous envy.
Every now and then, I get lucky and manage to purchase a prestigious wine at a knock-down price. Occasionally, I receive some wonderful gifts. But generally speaking, my wine collection is rather eclectic.
There are a few gems. I have a rather special vintage port that I bought from a store that "just needed to shift some of its old stock." I have some Sauternes that were considered to be past their best (I can state categorically that they are far from their best).
When I achieve particular goals that I set for myself, I reward myself with a coveted wine. But I also have some rather bizarre little items that are just fun.
I have some English wine. Because they do actually make wine in England, and I figured it would make good dinner-party conversation. I have a Russian wine that I received as a gift from a wonderful lady in whose home I did a tutored tasting (thank you, Dorothy). I have some obscure Bordeaux that have very little significance to anybody but my husband and myself. I also have some wine winging its way from China as we speak. How's that for novelty value?
Nevertheless, loving wine as I do,
People collect wine for all sorts of reasons. Hopefully, the number one reason is a love of wine. But how do people decide what to collect? And why?
I know that my husband would love to own a collection of fine Burgundies. His love of pinot noir is the sole reason for this. No California or Oregon pinot noir will ever compare. I don't doubt that he would love to drink Gevrey Chambertin Premier Cru with dinner every night. Hence, if we were to start a serious collection, I know exactly where his money would go.
Many collect particular regions of Bordeaux. This is a dream, but one way beyond my means. Maybe prestigious California cabernets. I wouldn't say no to a Dominus myself. But what would I really want to concentrate on? Really, I'm not too sure. Quite possibly the delights of port. But I need a summertime vice, too. Although collecting isn't seasonal.
Some people's collections exist for investment purposes. There is no doubt that money can be made in the en primeur (futures) market. While it may be very romantic, and sometimes surprisingly lucrative,
My favorite story is of the very wealthy New York gentleman whose very prestigious climate-controlled cellar has a very important centerpiece, a reminder of humility--a bottle of peach Manischewitz.
But wine as an investment seems to be short-changing the art. I mean, buying "Starry Night" to make a profit may be business-savvy, but it doesn't make one appreciate the genius of Van Gogh. It's rather like buying a leather-bound first edition and never reading the book.
SUZANNE GRUMKO, a London native, has worked in the wine industry for 15 years, currently with Total Wine in Central Park. She lives in Spotsylvania County with her husband, John, and seven children. She can be reached by e-mail at
Email: hippydotmom@adelphia.net.