Rent-a-Cellar wave hits the French

The wine-loving French are now following the British example of renting cellar space from private companies to keep their ultra-expensive or rare wines in perfect condition and away from thieves.

That is, until such time that the well-heeled French or British connoisseurs are ready to pop the cork or sell the vintage bottles they’ve invested in.  And why not?

Not everyone can have an underground damp cellar where fine wines can rest. And while “New World” wines like those from Australia and the United States can be kept perfectly on wine coolers, the British and French would have none of that for their home brews.

“Old World” wines are identified mostly from where the grapes came from and where they were made (Burgundy, Champagne, etc.), while “New World” wines are primarily known as to the type of grapes used – like chardonnay, cabernet and merlot.

The practice of renting cellar space was started in UK by wine merchant Fine+Rare. “Our storage clients are predominantly private clients, storing fine wine for future drinking or resale,” said Joss Flower, the firm’s grand cru director.

The London company also operates in Hong Kong with the new rich in Asia gobbling up and driving prices of fine wines to the stratosphere. -end-

Image by houzz.com