Whether you’re already a collector of great wine or want to begin building an assemblage for your home, Erin Demers, a sommelier who pours at Mt. Rose Wine Bar, has some pointers. She suggests creating a personalized collection of wines to cover myriads of occasions—from a Wednesday night in to a dinner party with guests to impress. “Start with curiosity, not pressure,” Demers suggests. “One of the best tricks is buying in twos when possible: one bottle to enjoy now and one to revisit later. Not only does this help you understand how wine evolves, it also builds confidence and consistency in your collection.”
Prioritize balance
Not every wine needs to be a big, bold red. Great collections include a little of everything—or at least everything you like. If you’re just starting to collect, consider a range of bottles, from light and bright pinot noirs and crisp whites to those Super Tuscan reds. If you’re building on an existing collection, Demers suggests filling gaps first.
“Take a step back and assess what you already have,” she says. “Many collections grow organically and end up heavy in one style… Do you have enough wines for casual weeknights? Enough whites or sparkling wines? Enough bottles that are ready to drink now?”
While ageable reds are popular for wine cellars, they don’t satisfy the ready-to-drink category when you’re looking for something that pairs well with your pasta dinner on a whim.
Demers suggests every collector include high-quality sparkling wines such as Champagne or Franciacorta. These will pair perfectly with impromptu celebrations but are also underrated for casual dinners, brunches, and even weeknight meals.
Ageable reds certainly have a place in your cellar, as well. Demers recommends at least one Barolo, Rioja, or Bordeaux that will taste better in years to come. But don’t forget the approachable vinos either, such as Beaujolais, Chianti Classico, or pinot noir. A textured white such as a white Burgundy or a well-made riesling and a fortified port or Madeira are not to be overlooked.
“A strong collection includes a mix of styles, regions, and drinking windows,” Demers says. “You want wines for Tuesday night and wines for milestone celebrations, bottles that pair beautifully with food and others that shine on their own.”
Buy for your palate
“I have a not-so-secret love for Champagne and Franciacorta—they’re the bottles I reach for whether I’m celebrating something big or just cooking dinner at home,” Demers says. “That’s the beauty of building a cellar: it should reflect what you actually love to drink. Have FUN with it! Follow your palate and don’t worry about doing it ‘right.’”
No two palates are alike, and that’s exactly what makes wine collecting personal and enjoyable.
“A great wine collection doesn’t begin with trophy bottles—it begins with understanding your own palate,” Demers says. “Buy wines you actually enjoy drinking; not just bottles you think you should own.”
Build a room for your wine
If you have the space to create a wine room or cellar in your home, basement, or garage, make sure it is built to protect your collection.
“Temperature consistency matters more than anything else,” Demers laments. “Aim for a cool, stable environment—ideally around 55 degrees—and avoid fluctuations. Light and vibration are wine’s quiet enemies, so keep bottles out of direct sunlight and away from constant movement.”
Humidity also plays a key role. You want a cellar that provides a temperate climate. If the room is too dry, corks can shrink, but if it is too damp, the labels can suffer.
When building your wine racks, prioritize those that allow bottles to be stored on their sides.
Once the structure is complete, find a system to organize your wines and stick to it. A spreadsheet or at the very least a notes app on your phone can make organization easy. You’ll want to catalog each new wine you buy and include notes on taste, where you had it, and what it pairs well with. The larger your collection gets, the more valuable this information will be.
“A cellar is most enjoyable when you know exactly what’s waiting for you—and when,” Demers says.
About Erin Demers
Erin Demers is a sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers with a background in fine-dining restaurant operations and hospitality leadership. Based in Reno, she specializes in terroir-driven wines, thoughtful cellar curation, and guest-centric wine programs that balance quality, value, and approachability. Demers can often be found at Mt. Rose Wine Bar in the Shayden Summit shopping center where she pours for owners Anthony Layton-Mathews and Amanda Flangas.