People care about the items they choose to collect. Whether it is baseball cards, fine art, exotic jewelry, or even shrunken heads, people tend to become passionate about the things they’ve amassed. This is especially true in the world of wine. In this often extravagant and elite collecting arena the product happens to be relatively fragile. Wine must be properly stored in a constant temperature, out of daylight, with regulated humidity and must be regularly maintained. Any lack of care could turn a valuable collection of fine wines into nicely bottled sour grape juice.

The Konecki Insurance Brokerage is proud to be a member of the San Diego County Vintners Association. As a member of this association we know that there are specific issues that must be addressed in wine collecting. Many wine owners may be unaware that the property and liability insurance markets are undergoing significant changes. So we have compiled some tips to help you protect your valuable wine collection.

• It is a mistake to assume your collection is protected under your homeowner’s insurance policy. Many large homes in Rancho Santa Fe and La Jolla high value homeowner insurance policies but few homeowners are aware that it is common practice to exclude coverage for perishable items and fragile goods. Just because your house is covered, doesn’t mean your cellar is too!

• Another common mistake is storing wines in the garage. This is problematic because gas and exhaust fumes can permeate the cork and cause spoilage. No one wants their vintage ‘76 chardonnay tasting like Union 76 gasoline.

• Because wine is perishable, it must be kept in a climate controlled environment. It is a good idea to connect your wine cellar to temperature and moisture alarms. Catching dramatic changes to the cellar conditions could prevent major losses.

• When it comes to a temperature controlled wine cellar, a skilled electrician is needed. Improper wiring can lead to short circuits- causing drastic changes inside the cellar. Any temperature chances can negatively affect the wine.

• In a wine collection, the portfolio is always changing. At times, owners will drink some of their wines, give some away or buy some more. So, keeping an up to date inventory will protect you from theft and undervaluation. If that’s too much trouble, consider a blanket wine policy.  

We hope you will utilize these tips to help ensure the future of your valuable wine collection. Please don’t hesitate to contact Konecki Insurance for more information or a free quote to start protecting your assets!