Wine Buying and Storing

Wine Buying and Storing covers two skills most wine buyers never formalize: knowing when a bottle is worth the price, and keeping it good once you own it. Decode shelf labels — Reserva, Grand Cru, NM versus RM on Champagne, single-vineyard versus blended California Cabs. Learn which grocery store wines punch above $20 and which $40 bottles are pure marketing. Storage covers what actually matters (temperature stability, light, humidity, position) versus what doesn’t (the difference between 55°F and 58°F isn’t worth the panic). Wine fridge buying guides at every budget — from $200 dual-zone units that work for everyday drinkers to investment-grade cellars for serious collectors. Honest answers on aging: which bottles benefit, which peak in two years, and how to tell the difference before you buy.