Buying Strategies

• Cheaper wines are cheapest at supermarkets. Even when wines are on special at booze barns or specialist stores, it is very unlikely they will be more competitive than the supermarket.
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• Always ask for a discount if you are buying a case.
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• Shop around for Super Premium wines. There can be a massive price difference.
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• When buying, especially back vintage wines, be aware of the shop's storage conditions.
  
• Develop a loyalty to a wine shop that can work for you in attaining allocated wines.  Support a good retailer and they will go the extra mile for you.
  

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Buying for Medium to Long Term Cellaring

• Buy Vintage. This is extremely important with New Zealand wines that you plan to keep. Stock up heavily on good vintages. Avoid lesser vintages. Look at buying Bordeaux blend red wines from warm, dry vintages such as Hawkes Bay 1998. However, some varieties prefer not too be baked in Australian like heat. For example 1998 Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs, lacked the acid to develop. Generally, I feel Chardonnays from cooler vintages have developed at a slower rate. Eg 1992, 1994, 1996, 1999 seem to have developed better than 1995, 1998.
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• Buy Labels. This is not just for snob value. Classic wines age better. Why? It’s not because being a classic makes them age better, it’s because wines that age better are classics! Winemaking technique has a lot to do with this. Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay, Babich Irongate Chardonnay, Te Mata Elston Chardonnay all age with more grace than most chardonnays, vintage in, vintage out.
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• Buy to achieve a balanced cellar. Your cellar should have a greater percentage of age worthy styles than drink up soon styles. No use keeping 500 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc, which is best drunk within 2 years. Buy to meet a specific plan. Balance wines that need a big wait with wines you can drink while you wait!
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• Dont get sucked in by show wines. Wines that win awards generally are just the best of the rest. Also to win the award, they must look great now. Judges may read potential into the score but generally gold medal wines look great now. Never take one show award in isolation. A wine that has attained consistent excellence across many shows may be worth a look. Show success is here today, gone tomorrow. Classic wines are always classic.
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• Don’t buy too many. Unless you want to be a collector, in which case all this advice is no good to you!! If you plan to drink a bottle a week, a 300 bottle cellar gives an average cellar age of 6 years, if you replace what you drink. This (to me) is more than adequate. Drinking wines that are too old defeats the purpose of a cellar which is to allow you to drink the wine at an optimum age.

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The gleam of goodies at your local wineshop demands a considered approach for most wine fans. There are other priorities in life! Buy carefully and to a plan.