The Neophyte’s Guide to Building a Stunning Wine Collection

When it comes to learning a new field, everyone has to start somewhere. Luckily, a lot of the heavy lifting for learning wine is also the best part: tasting new bottles.

WHAT TO TRY FIRST

At last count, there were over 10,000 different grape varieties being grown worldwide - a staggering amount, to say the least. When first getting into wine, it’s important to keep an open mind, and also to home in on what works best for your palate. Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir are widely available and grown in many regions around the world. These also come in a wide range of styles, prices, and options.

It’s also a good idea to try these grapes from a multitude of regions to understand how versatile a single varietal is based on different viniculture and viticulture practices. Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Noir are the three that showcase the region they come from and the style of the winemakers the most. As an example, Pinot Noirs from California would be bolder in style with the most fruit, Burgundy would be leaner with earthy tones, and Oregon will present in the middle bodywise with a good combination of fruit.

Cabernet Sauvignon varies as well, but in essence, every region is trying to craft a classic Cabernet. This grape often finds its way into red blends as well; by trying different blends with Cabernets as a means to explore the taste profiles of other grapes, you can explore and learn which other grapes you may like, such as Merlot.

Our Lead Sommelier, Elyse Lovenworth Recommends
Addax 2018 Tench Vineyard - exemplifies the classic Napa Valley, valley floor appellation Cab Sauv - it’s rated 98 points by highly regarded critics and emblematic of this renowned style featuring lots of fruit, oak, and higher alcohol content

While Pinot Noirs can be more of an acquired taste, if you’re starting to collect wines because you enjoy wine and food pairings, this is a great option. Pinot Noir is typically best enjoyed with a meal due to its high acidity and lighter tannin structure. These wines are also among the most sought after in the wine world, with some expressions fetching top dollar. Pinot Noir itself is notoriously fickle with some winemakers even joking that if you look at it wrong it ruins the flavor. Delicate aromatics are hard to let shine, with a multitude of factors overshinning the fruit easily. If you’re somebody who really enjoys food and wine pairings, and not just the wine, Pinot Noirs are a must-have for your collection.

Our Lead Sommelier, Elyse Lovenworth Recommends
Authentique 2017 Keeler Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir - is a classic Oregon Pinot Noir - Oregon is relatively new to the heavy hitters club but it's one people should get to know because this style is quickly becoming a lead in the category.

Although less expensive Rieslings have harmed this grape varietal’s reputation, it’s still one of the most diverse in the world. Even though it prefers a cooler climate, you can find Rieslings from several Old World countries and several countries/states in the New World which provide a variety of flavor profiles from sweet to semi-sweet and off-dry to dry. They can be made sparkling or still, sweet or dry. The options are truly endless!

Our Lead Sommelier, Elyse Lovenworth Recommends
Terratorium 2021 Santa Lucia Highlands Riesling - this riesling is not so traditional and not technically classic - but the style should be considered a classic because of its approachability.

Another diverse grape, Chardonnay, has an enormous breadth of style. They can be found oaked, unoaked, sparkling (from a secondary fermentation), barrel aged, stainless steel aged, in warm climates, cold climates, and there are even a multitude of clones. You can taste two Chardonnays next to each other and you wouldn’t even know they’re the same grape. For those who have tried the popular Rombauer style Chardonnay and have written off Chardonnays because you didn’t like the creamy, buttery, overly oaked profile, we encourage you to explore some other variations that are more approachable for a beginner collector. With so many styles, it can be both your least favorite and most favorite wine at the same time.

Our Lead Sommelier, Elyse Lovenworth Recommends
Flâneur 2021 Willamette Valley Chardonnay - the classic “I don’t like chard, but I love THIS chard” It’s the game changer for non-chardonnay drinkers - neutral oak barrel fermented and aged

The most important thing when starting your wine collection, is to have on hand what you enjoy drinking. It’s less about the ‘what’ and more about the ‘why’. Maybe you find yourself enjoying more light bodied red grapes, so you should continue to pursue that style. There is no wrong answer when it comes to enjoying wine, just make sure you like what you’re drinking!

When you find a wine you enjoy, we suggest purchasing 6-12+ bottles of that wine. This strategy allows you to explore how wines can change over time. Drinking a bottle a year apart can show you why older wines are often valued above youthful ones.

Consultations
Our team at Sommsation is always here to help all wine drinkers, no matter their experience level, to curate a personal cellar. We take pride in personalizing each cellar to your taste, ensuring bottles that are sure to delight you for years to come.

This article is from a Q&A with Elyse Lovenworth for Veranda, click here for the original piece.