FAQs - Cellaring Wine


 

What does 'cellaring' wines actually mean?
Cellaring wine involves storing young wines until they are at a point where the optimum drinking pleasure can be achieved.


Why does one need to cellar wine?
Some wines not only become more interesting with age but can actually require ageing to make them a pleasant drinking experience! The other reason to store young wines yourself for drinking at a later date, is the scarcity of mature wines to be had at a price you'd want to pay. Buy them when they are young at a cheaper price and you just have to wait for the wines to mature.


What sort of wines should I choose to cellar?
Medium to high quality wines can benefit from ageing but cheap wines will simply deteriorate. The choice of wine therefore is vital. Also pick wine styles you like! No good having mature wine you don't want to drink. The grape varieties that can age best are (reds) Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah and (whites) Chardonnay, Riesling and Sémillon.

For regions, it is safest to stick to Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Chablis, Sauternes and the top Piedmont, Mosel, Californian and Australian wines.


How do I buy wine to cellar?
Our Tailor Made Cellar Plan is an ideal place to start but you can also try buying wines at auction, from the producer or a merchant. Buying wines 'En Primeur' enables you to secure wines at a reduced price prior to bottling.


Where and how should I store my wine?
Really there are only two places to store your wine; either in a wine warehouse (either with the merchant from whom you bought it or another warehouse) or at home. Wherever the wine is stored, it should be:

  • On its side, lying down
  • At a steady temperature between 8 - 13° Centigrade
  • In the dark
  • Away from vibrations


How do I know when the wine will be ready to drink?
Rather unhelpfully, the only real way to tell is by trial and error because different people like wine at different stages of maturity. If you want some guidance though, our Fine Wine Department will be happy to assist you.


How do I sell my wine?
BBX (Berrys' Broking Exchange) is the online fine wine trading service that enables customers to sell, and buy, privately stored wines in Berrys’ UK bonded warehouse. Selling wine via BBX is simple and straightforward.No listing fees, free valuation guides and a fixed 10% commission on all wines sold. Firstly you need to register as a BBX seller. Registration is free.


How do I request delivery for my stored wine?
You can request delivery to UK addresses for unplit cases of wines stored IN BOND and pay the associated Duty & VAT charges, by using the facility in your online account. Log in to your account and go to your Cellared Wines section.  In Bond wines in your cellars will display the "request delivery" button. Click to add a case to your basket and check out for the payment of VAT and Duty charges. As part of the check-out, you can define the delivery address. If your delivery is to a non-UK address or if you want to request delivery for a Duty-Paid wine, please call us on +44 (0)800 280 2440  Mon to Fri 9am-6pm  Sat 10am-4pm