Protecting Your Wine Collection

A true wine enthusiast understands the rewards of

owning an expansive collection. The pride that goes into

nurturing a bottle, anticipating its peak age and then

enjoying its flavor can be gratifying.

To protect your collection, you may consider purchasing

wine insurance, especially if you store your collection in

your own wine cellar. If you own a large, valuable array of

wines, it is wise to insure your collection in a stand-alone

valuable articles policy.

You can either insure the collection under a blanket

amount, such as $50,000—or, if your collection contains

individual high-value bottles, you may wish to insure

each bottle separately. Generally, a stand-alone wine

policy costs 50 to 80 cents for every hundred dollars

of wine. Therefore, if you had a wine collection worth

$100,000, your premium would be roughly $550.

Policy Inclusions:

Wine insurance policies may include the following:

Protection against damages due to fire, theft or accidental breakage.
Protection against mechanical breakdowns in the climate control unit that damages wine.
Protection against label damage in a fire, flood or other natural disaster (for rmany rare, vintage wines the label increases the value of the wine)
Access to vendors who ship, buy and sell wine; vendors who store wine in another location; vendors who offer security systems for your collection; and vendors offering temperature-control systems
Guidance for how to best store your collection, especially when building or renovating your wine cellar

Storage Recommendations:

If you house a collection in your home, consider the following recommendations to reduce damage to your wine:

Do not store chemical, paint or odor-producing materials near your collection. These items can permeate through the cork and spoil the wine.
Do not store wine near heaters or sunlight, or in areas that are susceptible to flooding, such as beneath a bathroom or laundry room. Also avoid placing wine in areas of the home that are beneath or next to a home theater which causes excess vibrations.
Store wine at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity in a wine storage should also be 65-75%. Anything above or below that amount can damage the label or the cork.
Install an alarm that warns against theft, temperature changes, and moisture. When selecting an alarm, purchase one that sends a message directly to your mobile device.

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