Wine collecting: Advice from the experts
Aspiring wine collectors have been given some wisdom from some veterans of the pursuit in Australia.
In an interview with The Age, restaurateur David Doyle - proud owner of a 44,000-bottle collection - said that while his cellar contains a fair amount of Domaine La Tache 1978 and chateau Latour 1961, he does not consider it an investment vehicle.
"There's not one bottle in my cellar for an investment purpose that's not my buying pattern," he told the newspaper.
"I buy wines I like to drink."
Meanwhile, James Halliday said part of the pursuit is learning to judge exactly when a bottle is ripe for enjoyment - the advice of a reputable retailer can be invaluable for this.
Finally, the adage of 'try before you buy' holds especially true for wine, so sample a bottle before splashing out for a case.
According to wine writer Anthony Rose, aficionados beginning a cellar should start small by following the advice of a trusted wine guide, column or magazine.