Collecting fine wine is both an art and a science. “Genuine collectors,” notes The Robb Report, “thrive on an invigorating blend of passion and discipline. Their collections are purposefully designed, and exhibit a pronounced sense of order. True collectors do not merely create a cellar and stock it; they carefully select their wines according to their developed interests.” But tracking down the exact wines you are seeking isn’t always easy, especially if you’re looking for older vintages or rare wines - the sort of wines that make a good collection great.

The Robb Report offers a list of highly collectible wines, and ideas for sourcing those wines, including hunting for them at online wine auctions, such as WineBid. Bordeaux, Burgundy and California’s premier Cabernet Sauvignons attract the most attention from collectors. The so-called Cult Cabs are also highly collectible. Depending on personal tastes, collectors also gravitate toward older Riojas and the best wines from the Rhone Valley.

As for the investment value of wines, there are generally only a dozen producers per region that consistently make wines that appreciate over time. WineBid recently supplied 20 years of sales data to The Economist magazine, which produced a very analysis of the value of Burgundy vs. the stock market over the past 16 years.

However, most experienced collectors know not to count on wines to appreciate, since much depends on the vintage. “The true dividend,” according to the authors, “is in the enjoyment a high-quality wine provides.”

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