Wine 101: Shopping for Storage - Scene Asia - Scene Asia - WSJ
Wine 101: Shopping for Storage - Scene Asia - Scene Asia - WSJ As general manager of Hong Kong’s Crown Wine Cellars, Gregory De ’Eb has opened more than one bottle of 1982 Chateau Lafite. His verdict? “More often than not: not good,” he says. “A fine wine is like a battery. If you don’t store it well, there’s no energy left in it. It’s dead.”
Here are the top five questions he thinks every wine owner should ask when shopping for state-of-the-art wine storage facilities.
1. What is the exact address of my bottles? Many storage facilities have more than one storage warehouse or cellar. Make sure you know which one you get, and that your bottles won’t be moved.
2. What are the physical conditions my wines will be kept in? Cellars are either above-ground or underground. Mr. De ’Eb is a bigger fan of underground cellars, which are less susceptible to weather changes than above-ground warehouses. Either way, all storage facilities should have a weather-controlled temperature system inside. Other questions on the physical conditions that are worth asking: What type of lighting is used; do the fixtures emanate heat?
3. What’s the insurance policy? Storage facilities typically insure your wine for you—at an extra cost. Most comprehensive insurance plans will cover the market value of your bottles if any are accidentally broken or stolen. But an even better plan also will insure your collection against total and catastrophic loss in the case of a fire or larger mishap. Be sure to read the policy.
4. Do I own my wines? The question seems ridiculous, but many wine merchants will offer to store your wine as part of the sale—and some have been known to keep the “deed” to the wine in their name, not yours.
5. What’s the price? Don’t overpay: The average price in Hong Kong can run from US$2 to $3 a month, including insurance, which is usually an added 30 cents.
Here are the top five questions he thinks every wine owner should ask when shopping for state-of-the-art wine storage facilities.
1. What is the exact address of my bottles? Many storage facilities have more than one storage warehouse or cellar. Make sure you know which one you get, and that your bottles won’t be moved.
2. What are the physical conditions my wines will be kept in? Cellars are either above-ground or underground. Mr. De ’Eb is a bigger fan of underground cellars, which are less susceptible to weather changes than above-ground warehouses. Either way, all storage facilities should have a weather-controlled temperature system inside. Other questions on the physical conditions that are worth asking: What type of lighting is used; do the fixtures emanate heat?
3. What’s the insurance policy? Storage facilities typically insure your wine for you—at an extra cost. Most comprehensive insurance plans will cover the market value of your bottles if any are accidentally broken or stolen. But an even better plan also will insure your collection against total and catastrophic loss in the case of a fire or larger mishap. Be sure to read the policy.
4. Do I own my wines? The question seems ridiculous, but many wine merchants will offer to store your wine as part of the sale—and some have been known to keep the “deed” to the wine in their name, not yours.
5. What’s the price? Don’t overpay: The average price in Hong Kong can run from US$2 to $3 a month, including insurance, which is usually an added 30 cents.
