Becoming a Wine Collector – An Interesting Art Form

In 1738 poet John Gay wrote in The Squire and His Cure: From wine what sudden friendship springs! Wine has a long history that dates back to at least 4000 BC. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics in tombs include pictures of royalty drinking wine. In fact, the oldest known bottle of wine is dated from 325 AD and was found in 1867 in a Roman sarcophagus unearthed in Germany.

Men and women have been collecting wine for centuries, because of the stunning qualities of wine. The nuances in taste, quality, and aromas dependent on vintner techniques and grape selection make the collection of wine an art form similar to collecting oil paintings or sculptures. But wine also has the ability to become a social centrepiece at a meal, a means of promoting friendship (as pointed out by poet Gay), and even a commercial enterprise for those who like to buy, sell, and trade bottles of wine.

An Amazing Array

Australians appreciate wine and in 2006 the country was the sixth largest producer of the world’s wine. Wine is produced in all the states and the variety of growing conditions has led to the creation of wines from every categories including red wine, white wine, sparking wine, fortified wine, and dessert wine. Even more fascinating is the fact that the various categories of wine include variations depending on which Australian state grapes and production methods were used.

Now add the variety of wines produced around the world to the mixture, and it is easy to understand why people decide to become a wine collector. There is an amazing array of global wines that tempt the palate. Wines from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, New Zealand and the United States are just a few of the countries producing award winning wines.

Like any art collecting, there is a right way to approach the practice. The first consideration is deciding the kind of collector you want to be. Some people collect wine simply as a hobby, while others collect wine as an investment. The purpose you have for collecting will determine the kinds of wines you will purchase.

You also need to decide how big you want your wine collection to become in order to determine the amount of space needed for proper storage. Wine must be stored at a temperature that remains constant somewhere between 7ºC and 18ºC. The space chosen for the wine collection must be refrigerated and humidity controlled. best wine tours in Willamette Valley