Wine & cellar advice
Building your first wine cellar: the beginner's guide
A first cellar is built on three pillars: volume suited to consumption, stylistic diversity, and progression over time.
Initial volume
Count on 50 to 80 bottles for a couple consuming two to three bottles per week who wishes to always have options. A cellar of 150 to 200 bottles allows you to start aging wine.
Breakdown by style
A balanced distribution: 30% whites (crisp dry, round dry, sweet if desired), 40% reds (light, structured, age-worthy), 20% sparkling (crémant + Champagne), 10% dessert or aperitif wines.
Breakdown by usage
60% of wines for consumption within 2 years (recurring purchases), 30% of wines to age for 5 to 10 years, 10% for long-term aging (10 years and over). This distribution evolves as the cellar grows.
Starting budget
For a well-curated cellar of 60 bottles, count on a budget of €800 to €1,500, with an average price between €15 and €25 per bottle. A prestige cellar (grands crus) starts around €3,000.
Progression over time
The objective is not to buy everything at once, but to build over 6 to 12 months, taking advantage of primeurs, wine fairs, and trade shows to complete the selection.
Frequently asked questions
- Should you start with Bordeaux or Bourgogne?
- Neither exclusively. A beginner cellar should cover several regions to develop the palate.
- How do you know when to open an age-worthy bottle?
- Rely on producer technical sheets or advice from the wine merchant. When in doubt, open a test bottle before consuming your stock.
- Where to store wine without an underground cellar?
- An electric wine cabinet for 50 to 150 bottles meets a beginner's needs, providing stable temperature and humidity.