Seeking Opinions: Wine Cellar Organization
 

The Breezeaire WKE3000 is humming away. The racking is anchored to the wall.
On one long wall, I have racking for 320 bottles. The short wall, 96. The
other long wall I have 50 half bottles, 2 racks of 48 standard bottles, 1
diamond bin, and 1 champagne rack.

My question is: What is the best organization to put the bottles in the
racks.

For example:
|99|99|99|
|98|98|98|
|97|97|97|

or
|97|98|99|
|97|98|99|
|97|98|99|

I am leaning towards the second for 2 reasons: I can pull bottles from the
top (where it is warmer) to save the lower ones, and it will be easier to
put the 00 bottles in on the right side, instead of relocating bottles.

Do you plan ahead and leave a row (or column) empty for future purchases?

I think I am going to go by region, ie, German, California, France etc.

Do you occasionally reorganize your cellar and how often if you do?

We were at the local liquor store, found a bottle of Asti Spumante in a wood
case. It is a 6 litre bottle (Imperial?). Does it need to be stored on it's
side?

Thanks,

Walter

In article >, says...
>
>The Breezeaire WKE3000 is humming away. The racking is anchored to the wall.
>On one long wall, I have racking for 320 bottles. The short wall, 96. The
>other long wall I have 50 half bottles, 2 racks of 48 standard bottles, 1
>diamond bin, and 1 champagne rack.
>
>My question is: What is the best organization to put the bottles in the
>racks.
>
>For example:
>|99|99|99|
>|98|98|98|
>|97|97|97|
>
>or
>|97|98|99|
>|97|98|99|
>|97|98|99|
>
>I am leaning towards the second for 2 reasons: I can pull bottles from the
>top (where it is warmer) to save the lower ones, and it will be easier to
>put the 00 bottles in on the right side, instead of relocating bottles.
>
>Do you plan ahead and leave a row (or column) empty for future purchases?
>
>I think I am going to go by region, ie, German, California, France etc.
>
>Do you occasionally reorganize your cellar and how often if you do?
>
>We were at the local liquor store, found a bottle of Asti Spumante in a wood
>case. It is a 6 litre bottle (Imperial?). Does it need to be stored on it's
>side?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Walter

Congratulations on the cellar!

Good questions. I did regions/sub-regions & varietals/producers/vintages in
ascending years. It worked for a while, but the collections grew faster than I
drank. Also, I've found my Cabs stealing space from my Ports, my Zins
displacing my Pinot Noirs, etc. Bordeaux has moved all of Italy to the larger
open bins! Also, if I pick up a half-case of Colgin, then I have to squeeze it
into the space between Berringer and Dalla Valle! A lot of moving the bottles
around, especially in the upper rows, where I can't reach from end to end.
Yes, I do reorganize the cellar much more often than I'd like, or even should.
I tried to plan it all out, but after living with it for some years now, think
I'd make major design modifications. As to the best arrangement - dang if I
know. I've thought about regions/vintages/sub-regions/producers, and almost
every combination of these, but none seem to be without hassles. I guess that
the only answer would be to have at least 4x the space needed, and just not
buy faster than I can drink!

Your idea of placing the younger ones on the bottom is good, until the next
vintage. I might just say the heck with it, do Regions and then code the
entire matrix alpha/numeric and start logging in by slot, i.e. A-26, and
saying the heck with the order. But then, I'll have to spend a week in the
cellar with the laptop - maybe when Summer hits AZ and I need a week's air
conditioned vacation...

I'd suggest, though, a bin, or two that will hold those wines that you KNOW
you'll consume much sooner, than later. Maybe choose one closer to the door.

In the same quandry, after all these years.
Hunt

Too much wine, too little time.

"Hunt" > wrote in message
...
> In article >, says...

> Congratulations on the cellar!

Thanks, I never thought it would be so much work to move/place my meager
wine collection.

> Your idea of placing the younger ones on the bottom is good, until the
next
> vintage. I might just say the heck with it, do Regions and then code the
> entire matrix alpha/numeric and start logging in by slot, i.e. A-26, and
> saying the heck with the order. But then, I'll have to spend a week in the
> cellar with the laptop - maybe when Summer hits AZ and I need a week's air
> conditioned vacation...

There are some wines I know I will buy year after year... Most know this,
but JJ Prum WS Spatlese is one of them. I did put the 2003 Kabinetts close
to the door. I made one mistake with the cellar. When the door is open, the
light is on. when it is closed, its off (and I have proven that !). So, I
cant spend too much time in there without a flashlight. I just cant figure
out where to put the Prum Graach and my one off bottles like 97 Grange, 01
Ducru, 2000 Dows Vintage Port and the 10 year old Miles Maderia that I hope
I can keep from opening for a few more years.

Walter

In article >, says...
>
>"Hunt" > wrote in message
...
>> In article >, says...
>
>> Congratulations on the cellar!
>
>Thanks, I never thought it would be so much work to move/place my meager
>wine collection.
>
>> Your idea of placing the younger ones on the bottom is good, until the
>next
>> vintage. I might just say the heck with it, do Regions and then code the
>> entire matrix alpha/numeric and start logging in by slot, i.e. A-26, and
>> saying the heck with the order. But then, I'll have to spend a week in the
>> cellar with the laptop - maybe when Summer hits AZ and I need a week's air
>> conditioned vacation...
>
>There are some wines I know I will buy year after year... Most know this,
>but JJ Prum WS Spatlese is one of them. I did put the 2003 Kabinetts close
>to the door. I made one mistake with the cellar. When the door is open, the
>light is on. when it is closed, its off (and I have proven that !). So, I
>cant spend too much time in there without a flashlight. I just cant figure
>out where to put the Prum Graach and my one off bottles like 97 Grange, 01
>Ducru, 2000 Dows Vintage Port and the 10 year old Miles Maderia that I hope
>I can keep from opening for a few more years.
>
>Walter

Put them way in the back, near the floor, and hang neck tags that say "White
Zin" on them. That way you will not be tempted to drink them any time soon!
<G>

Yes, lighting is a bit of a challenge. I put a "porch" light in near the door
(mine is an exterior door on the lower deck), that acts like a reminder that
the main interior light is ON. Some dark nights, however, I wish that it was
not so and that I could switch it on to find the locks better - maybe a switch
at knee-level should my hands be full of wine. I've learned which key goes
into which lock just by feel. Oh, if I could only start the cellar all over
again with the years of experience that I NOW have. I still don't know that I
could come up with a fail-safe plan for the organization though. Good luck.

Hunt