Spring is a time for renewal, and what better way to embrace this spirit than by giving your wine cellar and storage space a thorough cleaning? Not only will it provide a fresh start for the season, but it also presents the perfect opportunity to assess your collection and make room for new, exciting types of wines from the 12 for $150 Case Sale spring wine event.
National Get Organized Day on April 26 is a day dedicated to encouraging individuals to simplify their spaces and establish systems for better organization. By decluttering and organizing your wine cellar, you can rediscover old favorites and make way for new additions, ultimately enhancing your wine drinking experience!
Easy Steps to Declutter Your Bottles
Decluttering your cellar can be a daunting task, but it’s worth it to ensure that you’re making the most of your wines. Start by taking inventory of what you have and noting the date when each bottle was purchased and its vintage.
To begin decluttering your wine cellar, start with the rosé and white wine types since a larger percentage have less aging potential. Next, store premium bottles with sentimental value separately to preserve their significance.
Narrow down your collection by focusing on drinking wines that are in their prime time. A wine vintage chart is a helpful tool for wine enthusiasts to understand the quality and characteristics of a particular wine vintage, providing information that can assist in selecting the best bottles for aging or drinking. Wine Spectator’s Vintage Charts are our go-to for reference!
Remember that wine is meant to be enjoyed, not hoarded! Make a habit of regularly reviewing and refreshing your wine collection with WTSO.com to ensure that it stays manageable and enjoyable.
Ways to Organize Your Wine Collection
Organizing your remaining bottles by vintage, varietal, or region makes it easier to find what you’re looking for:
Organize by Wine Region/Terroir
One way to organize your wine cellar is by grouping wines by their geographical region of origin. This can help you easily locate specific bottles and can also help you understand the unique flavors and characteristics of wines from different regions and the appellations’ terroir. By grouping wines this way, you can compare and contrast different styles and vintages from the same region. Overall, this method of organization helps you better appreciate the diversity and complexity of the wines in your collection.
Organize by Wine Type/Varietal
Grouping your wines by varietal can help you easily find specific types of wine. Taste them side-by-side to compare different bottles made from the same grape variety!
Organize by Wine Vintage/Age
You can also categorize wines according to their age by helping you track which wine vintages are ready to drink and which ones need more time to mature. More information about cellaring your wines can be found in our blog post, “How To Store and Age Your Wines.”
Label Your Wines
Another useful way to organize your wine cellar is by writing wine details such as the region, varietal, vintage, aging potential, and tasting notes onto bottle tags. Quickly scan the tags instead of pulling out the bottles to remember which WTSO wines you’ve enjoyed the most.
Rotate your Wines Seasonally
It can be beneficial to rotate your wines seasonally, placing cooler-climate wines closer to the front of the cellar during the warmer months and warmer-climate wines closer to the front during the cooler months, ensuring that your wines are stored at the optimal temperature and can also help you choose the right wines for the season.
Make Space: Different Types of Wine Racks
Install additional wine racks: Utilize the vertical space in your cellar by installing more wine racks. Wall-mounted racks are great for saving floor space.
Invest in stackable wine racks: Stackable wine racks are perfect for small or irregularly shaped storage spaces. These racks allow you to maximize your area by stacking bottles on top of each other.
Utilize under-shelf baskets: Make use of the space under your wine racks by installing under-shelf baskets. These baskets can be used to store wine glasses, corkscrews, and other wine accessories.
For more ideas about how to store your wines, read our blog post, “Ideas For Wine Storage”.
WTSO’s My Cellar App Feature
Use an online wine cellar app like WTSO’s My Cellar feature to help you keep track of your inventory and organize your wine collection digitally. This will help you know when to drink your wines and make room for new ones! Just visit the personal wine collection you’ve created, manage your personal wine ratings and tasting notes, and re-buy your favorite bottles in just a few clicks.
Hold Wines Until You’re Ready for Delivery
Store wine off-site: WTSO offers to store your purchased wines in their temperature-controlled facilities for up to 12 months. This option will free up space in your home cellar and allow you to expand your wine collection without worrying about storage. Organize your shipments to be delivered when it’s best for you!
Spring cleaning out your wine cellar can bring many benefits, such as making room for new value wines from our 12 for $150 Case Sale. Not only will this help you keep your collection organized and up-to-date, but it can also inspire you to try new varietals and expand your palate! Take some time to declutter, reorganize, and make space for the upcoming season of delicious wines.