Few other hobbies combine taste, tradition, knowledge, and investment opportunities like collecting wine does. Whether you collect for long-term value or simply for the enjoyment of a good glass, starting a wine collection can be tricky.
To help you get started on a great sip, NSA Storage put together the following guide to starting your own wine collection. In it you’ll find tips to help you get into your hobby.
What Makes Wine Collectible?

Before you get started, it’s important to know what makes wine collectible. More specifically, what makes a certain wine more collectible than another, not-so-collectible wine. Here are a few characteristics that will make one wine more collectible than another:
- The Wine’s Age– The metaphor “like fine wine, it gets better with age” is said for a reason; older wines can be tastier, and tastier wines demand higher prices.
- The Size of the Production or Batch– A popular wine made in a small batch can increase in value more quickly than wines made in large batches.
- The Wine’s Vintage– Like many collectibles, wines from certain years are more valuable than others.
- The Wine’s Region– The region where a wine’s made can affect its taste, body, etc. For that reason, wines from some areas of the world (i.e., regions) are more collectible than others.
- The Winery’s Reputation– Wines from a famous or beloved vineyard are more likely to increase in value than wines from one that is unknown or new.
How to Start a Wine Collection: Step-by-Step
If you follow the steps below, you’ll make better decisions and grow a more valuable, interesting, and delicious wine collection:
Step 1: Set a Goal
When you start, ask yourself this question: why do you want to collect wine? For fun? As an investment? To have good wine around at all times? Something else? Whatever your answer happens to be, focus on that when collecting your wine. Your goal should guide all of your buying decisions.
Step 2: Do Your Due Diligence
There’s a lot of helpful information about wine collecting out there today, including on Google, Youtube, and other social media outlets. Experts suggest using them all to educate yourself about any wines you desire for your collection, including:
- Wine magazines
- Wine websites
- Books by wine experts
- Online forums
- YouTube Videos
- Wine-centric Facebook groups
Step 3: Set a Budget Before Starting
No matter what you collect as a hobby, setting a budget is important. That way, you won’t overspend and let your hobby take over your life, at least financially.
The thing about wine is that a bottle can range from ten dollars to thousands of dollars per bottle. You could easily spend a few thousand dollars and still have a rather small collection. On the other hand, if you spend wisely on more affordable bottles, you could grow a nice collection for a reasonable cost.
In short, choosing and sticking to a budget before starting your wine collection is highly recommended. If anything, it could prevent you from making decisions that negatively affect your finances.
Step 4: Start Small
Wine collections come in many different sizes. When you’re just starting, yours is undoubtedly going to be small compared to others. Don’t worry about that. Just begin with a selection of bottles that you’ve researched and are confident will age well.
For example, purchase a case of wine you’ve enjoyed from a reputable winery you visited. (They often sell at a discount when you buy directly from them after a tasting!) You can also get a bottle or two regularly from your local wine store expert who lets you know when something good arrives.
Before you know it, with a little bit of care and effort, you’ll be a wine collector!
Step 5: Buy Wine from Trusted Sources
Creating a wine collection takes knowledge, effort, time and, most importantly, trusted sources. People and organizations who know their wines intimately and will lead you in the right direction. Some of the best trusted sources when creating a wine collection include:

- Reputable, local wine stores
- Wineries
- Online wine marketplaces
- Other wine collectors
Where Can You Find Wines that are Collectible
If you’re just starting, you might think the only place you can buy wine is from a liquor store or a winery. The fact is, though, that you can find collectible wines at many other places. They include:
- Auctions- Online and in person auctions are a great place to find rare or vintage bottles of wine.
- Wine Clubs- Many cities and towns have wine clubs that offer collectible bottles you won’t find in regular retail stores.
- Estate Sales- Estate sales are a great place to find older and often vintage wines at excellent prices.
- Wine Tastings- Wine tastings are a great place to find wine and also a lot of fun! You’ll meet the wine makers, taste different wines and get answers to your most important collecting questions.
- Winery Direct- Many vineyards allow you to buy directly from them through winery direct. If you find one you like and trust, it’s an easy, more secure way to get bottles for your collection.
Tips for Storing a Wine Collection
Like many collectibles, it’s very important that you store your wine correctly. If you don’t, you can ruin even the best bottle and destroy your investment at the same time. Below or a few top tips for storing your wine collection correctly so that it stays in pristine, and tasty, condition:
- Always store your wine between 55°F and 58°F.
- Prevent any sudden heat or temperature changes that can affect your wine. Storing in the attic, for example, is not a good idea.
- Never store wine in direct sunlight or near heat sources like an oven or furnace.
- Keep the humidity where you store your wine between 60% and 70%. If it’s too dry, your corks will shrink. If it’s too humid, your wine labels may peel off.
- Store your wine where it’s always dark, quiet, and cool.
- Don’t store your wine next to any type of machine that vibrates. For example example, a washing machine, dishwasher, or dryer
Store Your Wine Collection with NSA Storage
Like any other type of collecting, wine collecting can be fun, enjoyable and, in many cases, profitable. We hope that the guide provided today has given you the information you need to get started on your wine collecting journey!
If you already have a wine collection and you need storage options, NSA Storage can help. Our clean, safe, secure storage units are available throughout the United States. You can reserve a storage unit online in mere minutes and start storing your wine in style and safety! Many of our locations also offer wine storage lockers and climate controlled storage for the ultimate wine protection. Store your collection with confidence at NSA Storage.