Why do we collect wine? It has been said that the compulsion to collect and store wine is, in part, due to the "collectors impulse" - the need in human beings to create and savour like items of significance such as stamps, coins or rare bottles. This may be partly so, but collecting wine is different in many ways. Wine is one of the rare collectable items which, if carefully stored and handled in a properly controlled environment, will develop and reach a peak of maturity far beyond its original form. Wine enthusiasts the world over accept the challenge to use their skills and judgment to carefully tend their well balanced but earthy treasures, and thereby effect from within, a fusion of compounds which will result in an item of rare beauty.
/	Once this has been achieved the benefits are great. There is nothing better than to join with a group of other like minded souls to share knowledge and together unlock the mystery within each bottle of carefully tended wine, to sample the richness of the producer's skills and to savour the rewards afforded by careful storage and handling. Some collect wine for the sake of building an investment, and others simply because of the aesthetic value of the wine collection. Perhaps the most important reason is simply because of the sheer pleasure of having quality wines available and within your reach. A wine cellar is a source of infinite pleasure and interest, and a worthy addition to any home.