In addition to working extensively in fine art collections, Caitlynde comes from a 3rd generation winemaking family and has worked with wine collections exceeding $1 million in value. Wine collection is another passion investment and can oftentimes be irreplaceable. As in art collecting, investors and collectors will spend years to acquire an intended bottle. So, in order to manage these immense collections one must be prepared to protect them. In this entry, we have laid out a series of steps that should be taken in order to keep your valued wine collection safe

1. KEEP AN INVENTORY
The first step of managing and protecting your wine collection is to know exactly what you have. There are numerous online platforms to catalog your wine bottles, though this can also be done by hand.

2. CLIMATE CONTROL
Fluctuations in climate can cause the wine to age prematurely, thus it is important to keep the storage space regulated, the system monitored for disruptions, and set an alarm if high or low variations and cooling unit failures are detected. The temperature should remain between 52-57 degrees F. Fluctuations in temperature and wide swings can harm the wine: high temperatures age the wine faster, low temperatures slow down maturity.

Another important aspect of climate is humidity, which must consistently measure between 60-80%. Humidity is necessary in order to keep the cork moist. If it dries out, air will get in and the wine becomes oxidized or “corked”. Good circulation of air is essential to avoid damp aromas which will penetrate the cork and will ultimately give the wine a musty taste.

3. PREPARE FOR NATURAL DISASTERS
Wine collections are often in basements, where temperatures are cooler and the space is dark. Some basements can be prone to flooding, so it is important to be prepared with an adequately sized sump pump and use proper storage racks that will keep wine elevated from potential water damage.

In areas where earthquakes are a concern, movement becomes a concern. Wine should not experience vigorous movement as the wine needs a calm environment for sediment to settle. Proper racking can help eliminate this.

4. PROPER PACKAGING AND TRANSPORTATION
Just like fine art, a wine collection is most vulnerable during transit. Proper packing is often overlooked and one of the preliminary stages to prevent breakage during transit. Bubble wrap, towels, or plastic basket weave sleeves are not good methods of packing to protect wine during transit.

When putting collections in transit, hire shippers who specialize in valuable works such as wine. Trucks should be temperature and humidity controlled.

Franschloek, Western Cape of South Africa.