Even classic author George Eliot knew the importance of wine storage, back in 1871. For those of us with wine collections, or with aspirations of starting one, storage should be of major concern here in Arizona due to the extreme heat and low humidity in the desert Southwest. Some wines, Chardonnay for instance, are particularly sensitive to light exposure and the damage will be worse if the bottle is made of pale-colored glass. The warmer the wine, the quicker it will age, and very high temperatures can spoil wine quickly. If you're not mindful of how you store your wine, you will wind up with very expensive vinegar in your collection.

Kathleen Valentini of Valentini's Custom Wine Cellars (www.worldclasscellars.com) stresses the importance of protecting one's investment when collecting wines. "All wines need to be stored at a constant 62 to 68 degrees," explains Valentini. And she's just the woman to help you achieve that. Her background in architecture, construction, and the wine industry has helped her to carve out a niche that wasn't being filled until she came along. Valentini is proud of her work, as well she should be. She has constructed high end wine cellars across much of the country, for high-profile clients including Craig Stadler, who flew her out to his home in Evergreen, Colorado to build his wine cellar, and Michael Jordan's mother, among many others. Valentini is designing between five to ten cellars at any given time of the year, and all of her projects are by referral, word of mouth, or press.

Valentini's business was based in Scottsdale under the name "The Fine Wine Line" until just recently when she moved the home base of her business to Las Vegas and decided to focus solely on custom cellars and cabinets rather than focusing on a broader line of accessories and having a showroom. Valentini is not limited by geography - she has visited almost every state in the Union for the purpose of designing cellars.

Valentini explains, "Wine is a living organism, and like all living organisms, it requires a specific type of environment in order to age properly. Aging is a term for the biochemical change that happens within the wine. Whether that change is for the better or for the worse, relies on the storage conditions of the wine. There are four main factors to consider when planning your cellar: temperature, humidity, darkness, and lack of vibration. Stability is the key to proper wine storage.

Humidity is also a very important factor that is often glossed over. A wine cellar or storage facility must be humid enough to keep the cork from drying out, but not so humid that the labels on your bottles start to peel. After all, if and when your wines go to auction, the intact labels are precious.

Whether you are just starting out or are a seasoned wine collector, you should be concerned with storage. There is a storage solution for everyone no matter how large or small your collection is. Because Valentini does not represent any one company or product, she is able to advise clients on the products best suited for them and their collection. There are also a number of other storage options in the Valley, including other companies such as Copperstone Wine Cellars (www.copperstonewinecellars.com), and Arizona Wine Company (www.azwineco.com), which are full-service companies that provide a variety of storage options including rental storage space for your collection.

When making a decision on wine storage, you must take into account the current state of your personal collection as well as the projected state of your collection. Factors one must take into account include the size of your collection as well as the collection's value. If you are just starting a collection, a small wine refrigerator or cabinet that fits under your counter might work well. These are sold in different styles, sizes, and materials. These cabinets, sometimes called "mini cellars" usually hold less than 50 bottles. Collectors with a larger collection of bottles may want to consider converting a small closet or room in their home. When working with a designer like Valentini, decisions on design, shelving, and lighting will have to be made. Custom wine cellars like these hold anywhere from 600 to more than 6,000 bottles.

If converting a room or closet in your home is not feasible, and your collection isn't extremely large, you may want to consider renting a storage locker. You receive a key to your own wine space, and your bottles are generally accessible during normal business hours and every day of the week except for Sunday. One of the plusses in renting a storage locker is that the storage facility has a back up generator, in case of a monsoon power outage. And since the consistency of temperature means much to the quality of your collection, this may be a good choice for you and your collection.

No matter what you choose, make sure it is a decision that you are comfortable with, and that you are successful in protecting your investment in wine. Have fun with your storage solution, and let it represent who you are, and the type of collector you are and want to be.

If you are interested in learning more about the world of wine, please visit us monthly to learn more. Future issues will include pieces on tasting, wineries, accessories, and food pairings.