Some wines are meant to be everyday favorites. Others are the bottles you come across less often, from celebrated wine regions, special vineyards, and small production lots that make you want to put a few aside.
That’s the idea behind the 90+ Cellars Collector Series.
The Collector Series brings together limited release wines from some of the world’s most sought after appellations. These are wines we don't find every day, and when the right one comes along, we want to share it.
But what makes a wine worthy of the Collector label? It starts long before the bottle reaches the shelf.
Finding the Right Wines
The 90+ Cellars approach has always been a little different.
Rather than owning vineyards and producing every wine ourselves, we work with wineries and producers to find great wines from around the world. That gives our wine team the opportunity to explore different regions, varieties, and styles in search of bottles that deliver the quality and value we're looking for.
For the Collector Series, that search takes us to some particularly exciting places.
The collection can include wines from renowned regions and appellations such as Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Oregon's Willamette Valley, and Barolo in Piedmont. Within those regions, you'll find wines from even more specific places, including Oakville, Mt. Veeder, Stags Leap District, and Fort Ross Seaview.
These are places with distinct growing conditions, histories, and winemaking traditions. Finding a wine from one of them is only the beginning. It still has to be the right wine.
What Makes a Collector Wine?
A prestigious place on the label doesn't automatically earn a wine a spot in the Collector Series.
The wines are selected because they offer something special, whether that's the vineyard they come from, the quality of the vintage, the character in the glass, or an opportunity to experience a wine from a sought after appellation.
And because many of these wines come from small production lots, availability can be limited. Once a Collector wine sells out, it may not come back.
That's part of what makes discovering them fun. The collection can change as new wines and vintages become available, giving you a chance to explore places and styles you may not encounter in your everyday bottle.
A Collector Bottle Without the Collector Price
One of the ideas behind 90+ Cellars is simple: great wine should be more accessible.
Our model allows us to work with highly regarded wineries and producers without the expenses that come with owning vineyards and wineries ourselves. When we find an exceptional wine that fits what we're looking for, we're able to bring it to you under the 90+ Cellars label.
That same approach extends to the Collector Series.
It means a bottle from a celebrated wine region or appellation doesn't have to feel out of reach. These wines offer an opportunity to explore some of the world's great wine regions while still delivering on the value at the heart of 90+ Cellars.
In Alex's Words
"Often times when searching for a Collector’s Series worthy wine, it may take tasting between 20-50 different wines before finding the perfect one. Generally we’ll start out by reaching out to our winery contacts, people we have good relationships with. Sometimes we’ll use a broker who has access to multiple wineries in one place. Finding a Collector’s Series wine is like finding a diamond in the rough. There is so much wine in the world, but these wines are something special. They stop and make you think about who you’d want to share it with and what would you serve alongside it? Mostly we’re able to sell some really great small production wines at upwards of 75% off their source label cost. Wineries are always looking to clear tank space, or bring in an influx of cash fairly quickly and these are the perfect opportunities for us."
-Alexandra Shaughnessy, Wine Director 90+ Cellars
What to Look for in the Collector Series
There isn't one grape, region, or style that defines a Collector wine. That's part of the point.
You might discover a Cabernet Sauvignon from a specific Napa Valley appellation, Pinot Noir from a distinctive coastal vineyard, or Nebbiolo from one of Piedmont's celebrated Barolo crus.
Think of the Collector Series as an invitation to explore a little deeper. Look at the region. Look at the appellation. Try a grape you already love from somewhere more specific, or open something completely new.
And if you find a bottle you really love, you may want to grab another. With small production wines like these, what's here today isn't guaranteed to be here tomorrow.
EXPLORE THE COLLECTOR SERIES →
