Keys to the Cellar: Strategies and Secrets of Wine Collecting

"Peter D. Meltzer, Wine Spectator's auction correspondent for morethan twenty years, is the foremost authority on wine collecting. His book offers expert guidance for beginners and connoisseurs alike."
--Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator

"Peter Meltzer is an authoritative journalist, savvy collector,and urbane restaurant and wine list critic; he makes theideal companion and counselor for wine collectors."
--Michael Batterberry, Editor in Chief and Publisher, Food Arts

"Keys to the Cellar is fascinating, informative, and easy to read; with this book, you will truly understand the ins and outsof buying wines for your personal cellar."
--Kevin Zraly, educator and author of Windows on the World Complete Wine Course

A true wine-lover who knows the value of a well-aged bottle, Peter Meltzer both celebrates and demystifies wine collecting in Keys to the Cellar. His appreciation of fine wine flavors every page as he gives you a practical approach to building a collection that fits your preferences, your lifestyle, and your budget. You'll find information on:
* Buying and selling wine at auction, including valuable insider tips
* Bidding at online wine auctions
* Using the Web to calculate a wine's true value or locate a hard-to-find bottle
* Making the best use of fine wine merchants
* Storing and enjoying your wine--both every day and over the long term


As a bonus, this guide includes a user-friendly Wine Spectator auction index, an invaluable tool for researching the "going rate" for more than 500 top auctioned wines. Whether you are just getting started or want to enhance your collection, this is a book you'll savor again and again--like your favorite fine wines.

PETER D. MELTZER has been a wine critic for more than two decades. He is the auction correspondent for Wine Spectator, a contributing editor to Food Arts, and writer/publisher of the guidebook Passport to New York Restaurants. He began seriously collecting wine in 1982 and has about 1,000 bottles in his collection.