Not every basement is ideal for storing wine so you’ll need to do your homework — and you may find there are other more convenient ways to stash your favourite tipple.

Age is but a flavour, why?

There’s no point in storing your wine correctly if you proceed to serve it at the wrong temperature, in an inappropriate glass or with a deposit. Here, too, you need to follow a few simple rules to make sure that your wine is in the best possible condition.

The fine wine market has taken off on the back of a series of very good to great vintages in Bordeaux (1996, 2000, 2003 and 2005), which have taken worldwide interest to new levels.

The first and most important rule is to buy what you like to drink, unless you are buying solely for investment purposes.