How I spent my weekend..
On occasion it had occurred to me that I may actually have too much wine in my cellar. I mean, I know I have a lot of saved wine down there but I really haven't held a real grasp on the true numbers in a few years. The fact that almost all of my earlier wines were mostly inaccessible due to piles of stuff didn't help the matter. Just to retrieve a wine was an exercise in tomb raiding that would rival even Indiana Jones' or Laura Croft's most spectacular feats.
The original shelving area was out grown years ago. Wines of all types were now stored in several locations throughout the house. To make matters worse I knew wines were reaching and passing their drinking peak. But which ones and how many? All I could do is use the "past orders" section on one of my internet suppliers. While nice and convenient it didn't help me with anything I got as gifts or purchased in another way.
Things needed a change. I knew about wine management programs but those are more tailored to restaurants and private collections with quantities that I'll never reach in my lifetime. I needed something that not only tracked what I had on hand but something that would show reviews on those same wines. I mean I may have bought something on a recommendation a couple years ago and totally forgot why. Plus, I can always use input on a particular varietal that I may not be familiar with.
After a few hours of searching on the interwebs I found EXACTLY what I was looking for. A web based cellar management system with a very large community who share tasting notes and ratings. http://www.cellartracker.com/
Now to retrieve and catalog every wine in the house. This will not be easy.
Of course I didn't want to stop at just that. I decided while I have to physically look at every single wine in my collection I may as well relocate them to a central location where I could regulate the climate a but easier. This will not be easy...or quick.
I brought them up 2 bottles at a time, wiped them off and entered them in. It was exciting to add the name and see others who had commented on the exact same wine. Of course it was even funny to read some.
"Oh my -- this is terrible. We could not finish the bottle and had to pour it out. Please do not buy this wine. Yuk!!" about a Sauvignon Blanc that was given to us once at a party.
After 2 days of dust, sweet and a banged up body I finished relocating, cleaning and logging in the last wine.
126 bottles. Mostly red, majority of those Cabernet Sauvignon. My Cellar
This confirms that I do indeed have too many bottles in stock. Until our anticipated wine storage cabinet purchase which should be around October I would like to keep only about 100 on hand. To compound this "problem" I have another 12 bottles arriving tomorrow.
So, if you have read this far. You get to "help" me in my dilemma. I have several bottles that are at, or passing the peak drinking years. Some are even described as declining at this point. I have a few that may be corked or turned to vinegar from some tell tale signs but if I open them and find it's wonderful I would like to have others on hand to enjoy them.
Poll Wine anyone?
The original shelving area was out grown years ago. Wines of all types were now stored in several locations throughout the house. To make matters worse I knew wines were reaching and passing their drinking peak. But which ones and how many? All I could do is use the "past orders" section on one of my internet suppliers. While nice and convenient it didn't help me with anything I got as gifts or purchased in another way.
Things needed a change. I knew about wine management programs but those are more tailored to restaurants and private collections with quantities that I'll never reach in my lifetime. I needed something that not only tracked what I had on hand but something that would show reviews on those same wines. I mean I may have bought something on a recommendation a couple years ago and totally forgot why. Plus, I can always use input on a particular varietal that I may not be familiar with.
After a few hours of searching on the interwebs I found EXACTLY what I was looking for. A web based cellar management system with a very large community who share tasting notes and ratings. http://www.cellartracker.com/
Now to retrieve and catalog every wine in the house. This will not be easy.
Of course I didn't want to stop at just that. I decided while I have to physically look at every single wine in my collection I may as well relocate them to a central location where I could regulate the climate a but easier. This will not be easy...or quick.
I brought them up 2 bottles at a time, wiped them off and entered them in. It was exciting to add the name and see others who had commented on the exact same wine. Of course it was even funny to read some.
"Oh my -- this is terrible. We could not finish the bottle and had to pour it out. Please do not buy this wine. Yuk!!" about a Sauvignon Blanc that was given to us once at a party.
After 2 days of dust, sweet and a banged up body I finished relocating, cleaning and logging in the last wine.
126 bottles. Mostly red, majority of those Cabernet Sauvignon. My Cellar
This confirms that I do indeed have too many bottles in stock. Until our anticipated wine storage cabinet purchase which should be around October I would like to keep only about 100 on hand. To compound this "problem" I have another 12 bottles arriving tomorrow.
So, if you have read this far. You get to "help" me in my dilemma. I have several bottles that are at, or passing the peak drinking years. Some are even described as declining at this point. I have a few that may be corked or turned to vinegar from some tell tale signs but if I open them and find it's wonderful I would like to have others on hand to enjoy them.
Poll Wine anyone?