Holiday dinners are coming. Here’s how to get your collection ready for them.Fall in Los Angeles may not always come with dramatically cooler temperatures, but it does bring a change in how we drink wine. Holiday dinners are approaching, entertaining picks up, and suddenly those bottles you've been collecting throughout the year start getting a lot more attention.That makes this a great time to take inventory of your wine collection.Start by knowing what you actually have. It's surprisingly easy to forget about bottles tucked into the back of a wine refrigerator, wine storage unit or buried in a case. Take some time to organize your collection by varietal, region, vintage or when you plan to drink each bottle.This is also a good time to identify wines that are ready to open. Not every bottle is meant to sit for decades, and holding a wine too long can be just as disappointing as opening one too early. If you're unsure about a particular bottle, look into the producer's suggested drinking window and consider where and how the wine has been stored.Then take a look at what's coming up.Thanksgiving, holiday parties, dinners with friends and New Year's Eve all create opportunities to open bottles you've been saving. Set aside a few wines now for occasions you know are on the calendar. It makes choosing wine later much easier and gives you something to look forward to.Fall is also a great time to think about the bottles you want to add. Maybe there's a vintage you've been looking for, a winery you discovered this year or a few bottles you'd like to purchase specifically for aging. Knowing what's already in your collection makes it much easier to buy intentionally.And, of course, there's the question of space.If organizing your wine collection makes you realize you've officially run out of room at home, it may be time to consider professional wine storage.At Del Rey Wine Center, our Los Angeles wine storage facility is maintained at 55°F and 65% humidity, with dark, UV-protected storage designed specifically for wine. Our customers have 24/7 access to their collections, concierge receiving for wine deliveries and access to our new Tasting Patio.We're also building something beyond storage. Our plans include tastings, events and opportunities for our customers to meet other people who share their interest in wine.Your collection is meant to be enjoyed. Knowing what you have, protecting it properly and occasionally pulling out a bottle you've been saving is all part of the fun.
