How to Start a Wine Collection on Any Budget

For many wine lovers, the fear of not having enough money is the main reason to hold off on starting a collection. But many industry professionals say that it doesn’t take a huge budget to create a robust at-home wine cellar. 

So where to begin? Follow these simple steps and you’ll be on your way to the best at-home cellar in no time. 

First things first: Proper storage

It’s important to know how and where you’ll store your bottles.

“Proper wine storage is key to keeping your wine tasting great and lasting longer,” says Giulia Dwight, beverage manager at New York City-based Cucina Alba, citing temperature, humidity, light, and movement as important factors to keep in mind. “Temperature should be around 55°F — too hot and the wine ages quickly, too cold and it slows down.” 

Dwight says that improper storage can also cause oxidation, which can render a wine investment worthless. Humidity should stay between 50–70%, as anything below could risk drying up the wines’ corks and allowing air in, while humidity above 70% could cause mold.

“Sunlight can also damage wine which is why wine bottles, unless meant to be consumed right away, tend to be dark,” says Dwight.  

“While there’s a wide range of wines available at various price points, it’s important to factor in the costs associated with proper storage,” she says. Dwight notes that while investing in a wine fridge or cellar adds to the initial expense, having suitable storage conditions is crucial for preserving the quality of your collection. 

Smaller-capacity wine fridges — think six to eight bottles — can cost as little as $150, whereas larger-capacity cellars that hold 70+ bottles can run anywhere from $1,000 and above. (To explore our editor-approved favorites, check here.) 

Additionally, Dwight suggests investing in versatile wine glasses, a reliable corkscrew, and a journal or app to track tasting notes and inventory. Great corkscrews cost as little as $8. Similarly, solid glassware can be found at a variety of price points, from $50 to more than $200 dollars per set.  

Establish a foundation, but stay open-minded

Nikita Malhotra, head sommelier at Pressoir, a New York-based company focused on curated wine experiences and events, says maintaining curiosity is crucial as a wine collector. 

“If you enjoy a certain style or region, then that can become your anchor, but also be mindful to try other wines,” she says. For example, Malhotra observes that Oregon wines could offer great alternatives for Burgundy lovers, as could wines from California’s Sierra Foothills for fans of Rhône grape varieties. 

Michaela Johnson, a sommelier at Le Jardinier, recommends doing some research before investing in pricier bottles from popular producers.  

“First, gain knowledge about the regions you want to collect, [and] read up about the best and up-and-coming producers,” she says.  

“You could limit yourself to purchasing six bottles a month for an average of $25 each, spending $150 a month,” she says. “By the end of the year, you’ll have a huge wine collection.” 

Hidden gem bottles, according to the pros

While obvious marquee regions like Burgundy and Bordeaux can come with a hefty price tag, there are plenty of gems to be found in underrepresented wine regions.

“One can start collecting wines that cost less than $50, and I think the range of $20–50 is a good place to start,” says Malhotra. She points out that establishing a relationship with a reliable retailer is a great first step to finding high-quality wines at lower price points. “If you trust the staff and they can guide you based on your emerging palate, you can have access to wines that might be from younger producers or producers who just gained distribution in your region,” she says.

Beyond producers, Johnson proposes looking to lesser-known regions within well-known appellations to find great deals. Here are three high-value, budget-friendly regions to explore, according to the pros.

Burgundy: Côte Chalonnaise & Mâconnais, as and Alternative to Côte d’Or

While top Burgundies from the Côte d’Or can cost a pretty penny, great budget-friendly options can be found in the southerly Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais regions, a handful of which are actually produced by some of the Côte d’Or’s top producers. 

Johnson says that many winemakers — even the most famous ones — often have secondary labels, which generally cost significantly less than their flagship counterparts. These are great bottles to start a collection with.

For example, the owner of Burgundy’s famed Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Aubert de Villaine, produces wines from the southerly Côte Chalonnaise region under his Domaine de Villaine label, which cost a fraction of the price. Similarly, Meursault-based Dominique Lafon crafts budget-friendly Burgundies from Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon in the Mâconnais. 

Malhotra observes that this notion of secondary labels goes far beyond Burgundy. 

“I started collecting wines from Burn Cottage in New Zealand after I learned that Ted Lemon of Littorai [California] was involved, and now I adore wines from Central Otago [New Zealand],” she says.

Malhotra says that many Burgundy producers offer regionally designated bottlings (labeled as Bourgogne Rouge or Bourgogne Blanc) that overdeliver for the price. This provides a stepping stone into village-level bottlings — that is, those that come from a specific village in Burgundy as opposed to bottles with broader designations, which can be crafted from fruit sourced from numerous villages. 

“For example, you can start with a bottle of Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne 2020, which would retail around $40, and move into Benjamin Leroux Gevrey-Chambertin 2020, which is around $75, and continue into the premier crus if you enjoy that style of winemaking,” she says.

California: Paso Robles, as an alternative to Napa Valley

Although Napa Valley tends to be the go-to region for full-bodied California Cabernet Sauvignon, many of the region’s wines have skyrocketed in price over the past two decades.

Enter Paso Robles, the Golden State’s southerly alternative for fans of bold Cabs. Situated between San Francisco and Los Angeles in San Luis Obispo county, this sun-drenched region is putting out some of the estate’s most flavor-packed reds, including those produced using Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Daou and Austin Hope are two of the region’s most prominent producers of the style, as is 1858, which is produced by the Wagner family, the brains behind Napa-based Caymus. 

Loire Valley: Pouilly-Fumé & Quincy, as an alternative to Sancerre

For fans of Sancerre looking for something similar but less expensive, other appellations within the Loire Valley can provide great alternatives. 

“Pouilly-Fume and Quincy are satellites — that is, adjacent wine-producing communes — of Sancerre, but most people aren’t as familiar with Quincy,” says Johnson. She notes that like Sancerre, the white wines of these neighboring appellations are produced from the same grape, Sauvignon Blanc. 

Once the wines are in your cellar, Johnson finds that knowing a bit about vintages is also important. “Understanding which years are great for drinking now and which [bottles] should be held is important, that way you don’t consume a bottle too early or leave it for too long,” she says.

Malhotra says that while attending auctions can be intimidating for the uninitiated, there can be real value in starting your collection with mixed lots. 

“A ‘lot’ is what the auction houses use in their terminology for what is put up for a bid,” she explains, adding that some lots are composed of one type of bottle, while others contain multiple expressions. “It is important to know that you are bidding for everything in that lot, as it cannot be divided in the sale,” she says. “A mixed lot, as the name implies, contains multiple types of wine. So it won’t be multiple bottles of the same wine or a singular bottle.” This provides an opportunity for collection diversity, as well as a great way to try new regions and wine.

“My advice will always be to collect the wines you would want to drink with family and friends,” adds Malhotra. If you’re passionate about wine, the regions and styles you enjoy most should guide your choices.