Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
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- GCC Member
- Posts: 2128
- Joined: June 21st, 2009, 5:12 pm
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Ok we (well, the old farts among us) talk about owning too much wine, stopping buying, reducing our holdings, etc. So i challenge those of us to post on the first of each month whether during the month we increased or managed to decrease our holdings (or held stable). If you use CT, check your holdings today (including undelivered purchases) and record it somewhere (I won’t ask you to post it here but feel free to do so) and the on the first of each month tell us how you did. This will be hard for me as I don’t drink that much.
I will start. As of today I own 2545 bottles. Goal is to get down to 2400 by the end of the year.
I will start. As of today I own 2545 bottles. Goal is to get down to 2400 by the end of the year.
- M. Dildine
- GCC Member
- Posts: 20744
- Joined: February 8th, 2009, 5:09 pm
- Location: Alta California
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
As of today, I hold 703 bottles. Goal is to get to 675 by year end. We consume about 350 bottles per year (two year inventory).
My major purchases (mostly through mailing lists) come over two periods: Jan - March and June - Aug. My strategy is to purchase fewer bottles each month versus what I did the previous year.
My major purchases (mostly through mailing lists) come over two periods: Jan - March and June - Aug. My strategy is to purchase fewer bottles each month versus what I did the previous year.
Cheers,
Mike
Mike
- Victor Hong
- Posts: 13216
- Joined: May 30th, 2009, 1:34 pm
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
04/01/2018: 2898 bottles total cellared and pending
12/31/2018: 2680 goal to accomplish
12/31/2018: 2680 goal to accomplish
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Wow, I feel like a piker. I was happy to go from about 750 in 2010 to 275 today. Mainly college expense induced frugality. The goal it possibly get to around <200 next year before we retire and relocate.
We stopped buying wines to long-term cellar a while ago and are only maintaining 1 mailing list.
We stopped buying wines to long-term cellar a while ago and are only maintaining 1 mailing list.
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Pittsburgh Dad says, "Twenty bucks for a field trip to the art museum? Tell you what, I'll drive you past the Lemieux statue for free."
Pittsburgh Dad says, "Twenty bucks for a field trip to the art museum? Tell you what, I'll drive you past the Lemieux statue for free."
- Philip N. Jones
- Posts: 369
- Joined: December 4th, 2011, 5:56 pm
- Location: Portland, Oregon
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Over the last year, I have cut back from 600 to 550. I hope to continue the decline. I am not getting any younger.
Phil Jones
Phil Jones
- David Glasser
- GCC Member
- Posts: 5447
- Joined: August 16th, 2009, 6:03 pm
- Location: Maryland
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Some big dinners last weekend helped me in my goal.
Purchases in March: 0
Bottles consumed in March: 21 (counting a 3L as 4 bottles)
Purchases in March: 0
Bottles consumed in March: 21 (counting a 3L as 4 bottles)
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
19 bottles net negative so far in 2018. Goal is -80 by the end of the year, so actually very close to on track.
A s h i s h A g r a w a l
- J. Singleton
- GCC Member
- Posts: 4119
- Joined: January 27th, 2009, 12:36 pm
- Location: Dallas/Napa
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Sent 670 bottles to auction last month and kept around 375. Feels amazing.
Jeb
Berserker #7
CT: DC202
IG: jeb.singleton
Berserker #7
CT: DC202
IG: jeb.singleton
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Not an old fart but 2227 and trying to reduce significantly this year.
B. C |-| E N
(CT Handle: mrbry83)
(CT Handle: mrbry83)
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- Posts: 200
- Joined: November 9th, 2014, 2:46 pm
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
1137 bottles
Goal is to get down to 1000 by the end of 2018.
BTW, I am 61
Goal is to get down to 1000 by the end of 2018.
BTW, I am 61
- Monte Mast
- GCC Member
- Posts: 652
- Joined: February 28th, 2010, 8:25 pm
- Location: Tomball, Texas
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
1037 currently (985 with 52 pending)
Hoping to relocate from Texas to Oregon summer of 2020.
Would love to get down to 50 cases (600) but 60 (720) is more realistic. That would be a minimum of a net reduction of 12 bottles a month or 17 to get down to 600.
Hoping to relocate from Texas to Oregon summer of 2020.
Would love to get down to 50 cases (600) but 60 (720) is more realistic. That would be a minimum of a net reduction of 12 bottles a month or 17 to get down to 600.
Monte Mast
"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." Benjamin Franklin
"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." Benjamin Franklin
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- Joined: January 24th, 2010, 8:11 pm
- Location: seattle
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
So how's this. I have no idea how many bottles I have.
- Randy Bowman
- GCC Member
- Posts: 9157
- Joined: January 27th, 2009, 2:23 pm
- Location: Napa, CA
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
The earthquake in 2014 reduced my cellar by about 200 bottles at home and destroyed my 500 bottle wine refrigerator. Haven't bothered getting a new cellar and just keep the 52 bottle under counter wine refrigerator nearly full, replacing as we drink them.
IN THE BUSINESS SHILL: An associate of a person selling goods, who pretends no association to the seller and assumes the air of an enthusiastic customer.
- alan weinberg
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Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
me either. And in no hurry to reduce.john stimson wrote:So how's this. I have no idea how many bottles I have.
- Robert Grenley
- GCC Member
- Posts: 983
- Joined: November 23rd, 2009, 8:41 pm
- Location: Seattle, WA
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
I have about 2400 bottles or so. I know why I am not looking to increase my total (I am 63, my total number of bottles seems like enough, I am somewhat running short of space without cramming in bottles in a less organized fashion, etc.), but I am not sure why I would be looking to reduce the size of my cellar. Reasons I could think of (I will be moving and want fewer cases to transport, I have no heirs interested in wine so if any wine is left after my demise it will go to waste, I need to fund an addition to my house, I have too much domestic wine that is less reliable to age and may be getting past its prime, my tastes have changed and I need to get rid of the stuff I no longer enjoy drinking, I am paying for offsite storage and I would like to pay less, I have decided that I like fresh and not mature wine, etc.) do not apply in my case. So, as long as the wines are not getting past their prime, I see no need to divest. I do buy house drinkers, continue to backfill older Burgs in 1-2 bottles increments for fun and amusement, buy some OR pinot and Rhys and W-S, continue to age the Burgs and pull them out when appropriate, and have pretty much given up the idea of pursuing new Burg releases after 2010 (Ok, I bought some 12’s and 15’s) so I don’t need to make room for the latest vintage. Of greater import to me is when to drink the wines I have, how to make sure I get to the ones I have an emotional (and not just financial) investment in before I am too old to hold a glass, etc. i already have a plan of succession. I have printed out a cellar inventory and categorized the wines into various levels of absurd value so that, should any be left after I am done drinking through as many as I can manage, my family can decide what delicious wine they want to drink and what they might want to sell at auction. So,I think that if my cellar is the same size when I die as it is now, it will be OK.
I started out on Burgundy but soon hit the harder stuff.
-Bob Dylan
"...what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I've ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response was there anything that could even be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it."
-Bob Dylan
"...what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I've ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response was there anything that could even be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it."
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Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
I have been trying to be more selective in my red wine buying this year, partly as a means to make the cellar less jammed/cluttered and more navigable.
I've slowly begun to inventory stacks since I started this at the beginning of the year, and have located a number of bottles that I was unaware I still had, so a nice ancillary benefit as well
I've slowly begun to inventory stacks since I started this at the beginning of the year, and have located a number of bottles that I was unaware I still had, so a nice ancillary benefit as well

- D@vid Bu3ker
- GCC Member
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- Joined: February 14th, 2009, 8:06 am
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
I am failing miserably at reduction.
Not really sad about that.
Not really sad about that.
David Bueker - Rieslingfan
- Howard Cooper
- GCC Member
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- Location: Rockville, MD
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
This seems like Weight Watchers for winos. Are there points?
Howard
"That's what I do. I drink and I know things." Tyrion Lannister
"That's what I do. I drink and I know things." Tyrion Lannister
- J a y H a c k
- GCC Member
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- Joined: May 29th, 2009, 9:59 am
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
I need a legal ruling. Do I have to count the wines on the floor of the cellar that do not yet have a home in the slots and bins so I have not yet entered them into Cellartracker? How about the two cases in my office that I haven't brought home yet?
See photo below for more details.
See photo below for more details.
Yes, that's a DM of 1978 Mouton!
- Jay Miller
- GCC Member
- Posts: 13058
- Joined: June 19th, 2009, 5:18 pm
- Location: Jersey City
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Announcing a cellar reduction plan on April Fools Day? Very appropriate, for me at least.
I have 644 bottles and hope to reduce that to 600 by the end of the year. Same goal as last year but maybe this thread will help. I'm down 24 from January 2017 which counts as progress.
I have 644 bottles and hope to reduce that to 600 by the end of the year. Same goal as last year but maybe this thread will help. I'm down 24 from January 2017 which counts as progress.
Ripe fruit isn't necessarily a flaw.
- Pat Martin
- Posts: 2378
- Joined: May 22nd, 2011, 11:38 pm
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Cellar at 2800 bottles.
Plan is to get below 2700 by year’s end, maybe even below 2600!
Plan is to get below 2700 by year’s end, maybe even below 2600!
P@ tr!ck M 8rt!n
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- GCC Member
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- Location: Vienna, VA
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
I need that same ruling. Also do we count wines already purchased but shipments just coming in (several more cases due in the next few weeks)?J a y H a c k wrote:I need a legal ruling. Do I have to count the wines on the floor of the cellar that do not yet have a home in the slots and bins so I have not yet entered them into Cellartracker?
- Victor Hong
- Posts: 13216
- Joined: May 30th, 2009, 1:34 pm
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
They do not exist, if you drink them beforehand.J a y H a c k wrote:I need a legal ruling. Do I have to count the wines on the floor of the cellar that do not yet have a home in the slots and bins so I have not yet entered them into Cellartracker? How about the two cases in my office that I haven't brought home yet?
See photo below for more details.
WineHunter.
- David Glasser
- GCC Member
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- Joined: August 16th, 2009, 6:03 pm
- Location: Maryland
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Yes. 93.Howard Cooper wrote:This seems like Weight Watchers for winos. Are there points?
- Peter Hirsch
- Posts: 2759
- Joined: June 5th, 2009, 7:19 pm
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Down about 4% so far this year.
Total purchases minus total consumption.
A great 3 months...
Total purchases minus total consumption.
A great 3 months...
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
That's a good analogy. So far, I'm the fattest person here. Probably, literally and figuratively. I am trying to reduce both, but I'm not going to say where I am now (on either count).Howard Cooper wrote:This seems like Weight Watchers for winos. Are there points?
Ken V @ s t o l @
The Fine Wine Geek
Click on the W W W button under my name to see my website.
"Don't be meek, embrace the geek." -Terry Theise
Twitter: @FineWineGeek
The Fine Wine Geek
Click on the W W W button under my name to see my website.
"Don't be meek, embrace the geek." -Terry Theise
Twitter: @FineWineGeek
- Joe B
- GCC Member
- Posts: 8519
- Joined: October 28th, 2012, 2:40 pm
- Location: North Burbs Chicago Illinois
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
I drank off about 15 bottles last month. Does that count?
J W@ll @ce
WOTY
2009 Shafer Hillside Select 98
2013 Realm To-Kalon 97
WOTY
2009 Shafer Hillside Select 98
2013 Realm To-Kalon 97
- Robert Pollard-Smith
- GCC Member
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- Joined: June 3rd, 2009, 9:11 am
- Location: Always on LSD, except when traveling
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
At the beginning of 2017, I was at an even 750, and said to myself, see if you can empty out one of the three offsite lockers. I got that locker down under 3 cases.
I am now at 749.![oops [oops.gif]](./images/smilies/oops.gif)
I am now at 749.
![oops [oops.gif]](./images/smilies/oops.gif)
He's like a star on a foggy morning
When you think he's near, he's far away
When you think he's near, he's far away
- Bryan Price
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- Location: Coto de Caza, CA
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Woah woah you're introducing way too much accountability on these boards!
Life's too short to drink bad wine.
- M. Dildine
- GCC Member
- Posts: 20744
- Joined: February 8th, 2009, 5:09 pm
- Location: Alta California
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
One thing that may assist me in cutting back - I'm primarily a North Coast California wine buyer. The 2017 vintage was relatively small and challenging (weather and fires) here.
Cheers,
Mike
Mike
- Joe B
- GCC Member
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- Location: North Burbs Chicago Illinois
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
I don’t think we are supposed to mention the fires Mike.M. Dildine wrote:One thing that may assist me in cutting back - I'm primarily a North Coast California wine buyer. The 2017 vintage was relatively small and challenging (weather and fires) here.
J W@ll @ce
WOTY
2009 Shafer Hillside Select 98
2013 Realm To-Kalon 97
WOTY
2009 Shafer Hillside Select 98
2013 Realm To-Kalon 97
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- GCC Member
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- Joined: November 11th, 2009, 11:46 am
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
My wake up call was when I crossed the 1000 bottle threshold this past summer. I sent 4 cases to auction (I should have sent triple that number) and am at 956 now. I am very serious about reducing my inventory, and since January, output has exceeded input.
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
I'm somewhere between 450-500 bottles as I don't always enter daily drinkers into Cellartracker. I bought a new house this year, so the goal is to cut back purchasing significantly (hopefully at 400 bottles by year end), though I plan on adding some higher end/older wines as I'm also trying to re-balance my cellar.
Nøv¡¢k
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
I have been happy simply slowing the rate of increase - an inflection point on the growth curve if you will.
Andrew H e i m e r t
- Robert Grenley
- GCC Member
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- Joined: November 23rd, 2009, 8:41 pm
- Location: Seattle, WA
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
I am still tying to figure out the desire to reduce the total amount of inventory...unless it is kept at a cost in offsite storage, they have exceeded the comfortable capacity of their cellar and have to navigate boxes in the middle of the floor (see above), the wine is to be sold and the money used for some other worthwhile or non-worthwhile purpose, someone's taste has changed and they wish to shift the composition of the cellar, they have too much wine that is getting old and past its prime, or their life's end is in site and they have no heirs who enjoy wine. But most posters here express their desire to reduce their inventory but it is not apparent that there is a purpose behind it.
I started out on Burgundy but soon hit the harder stuff.
-Bob Dylan
"...what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I've ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response was there anything that could even be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it."
-Bob Dylan
"...what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I've ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response was there anything that could even be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it."
- dsimmons
- GCC Member
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- Location: Anchorage, AK and Rockport, TX
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
I started at ~2800 bottles 4 years ago and decided that 2000 would be a good cellar size for me, based on my likes and drinking habits. Since then I have dropped to ~2400 bottles (including being stiffed for over 100 bottles by Premier Cru).
My plan is to continue with my cellar reduction efforts but I am not overly concerned about how fast I get there. A reduction of 50 to 100 bottles a year seems a reasonable goal.
My plan is to continue with my cellar reduction efforts but I am not overly concerned about how fast I get there. A reduction of 50 to 100 bottles a year seems a reasonable goal.
D o n
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Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Jeff Bloom wrote:I need that same ruling. Also do we count wines already purchased but shipments just coming in (several more cases due in the next few weeks)?J a y H a c k wrote:I need a legal ruling. Do I have to count the wines on the floor of the cellar that do not yet have a home in the slots and bins so I have not yet entered them into Cellartracker?
Yes and yes sez the judge
- Howard Cooper
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Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
David Glasser wrote:Yes. 93.Howard Cooper wrote:This seems like Weight Watchers for winos. Are there points?
![[welldone.gif] [welldone.gif]](./images/smilies/welldone.gif)
Howard
"That's what I do. I drink and I know things." Tyrion Lannister
"That's what I do. I drink and I know things." Tyrion Lannister
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Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
My wife had her first reality check conversation with me about the amount of wine I have and the fact we are planning to retire in a few years and go RVing full time. Much work to be done on the inventory reduction front.
Listen to more Jerry, it will heal your soul.
9/1/74 - Keystone Berkeley
9/1/74 - Keystone Berkeley
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Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
To address Robert G's comments, I am well into my sunset years(some might say that the sun set a long time ago), hence the need to reduce inventory, neither my wife nor my kids drink reds, so I have been drinking down the reds and only buying(with a few exceptions) whites and rose for current drinking..Have reduced inventory by about 100 bottles/year over the last 3-4 yrs and hope to continue to do so this year..No purchases since January and still drinking 2-3 bottles/week.
Jon
- David Glasser
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Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Russ, I’d immediately begin negotiating for a second RV dedicated solely to wine storage. 

Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Indeed. Or refrigerated trailer.David Glasser wrote:Russ, I’d immediately begin negotiating for a second RV dedicated solely to wine storage.
Andrew H e i m e r t
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Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Thanks guys!! Yeah, I’m screwed from a storage cost perspective. Anyone have any good insights on a reasonably priced climate controlled storage facility? Domaine Wine Storage is a tad expensive.
Last edited by Russ Williams on April 4th, 2018, 12:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Listen to more Jerry, it will heal your soul.
9/1/74 - Keystone Berkeley
9/1/74 - Keystone Berkeley
- Kevin Porter
- GCC Member
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- Location: Near Philadelphia
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
If anyone needs any help I’m well ahead of schedule and will gladly take wines off your hands. I’m thinking particularly of Maureen who must have excess Truchot, but I’m an equal opportunity Good Samaritan.
- Mark C
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Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Russ, just get a self-driving refrigerated truck, put wine racks in the back and slave it to the GPS in your RV. It will follow you everywhere and you can put your entire cellar in it. Win-win-win . . . err . . . wine-wine-wine!Russ Williams wrote:Thanks guys!! Yeah, I’m screwed from a storage cost perspective. Anyone have any good insights on a reasonably priced climate controlled storage facility? Domaine Wine Storage is a tad expensive.
![cheers [cheers.gif]](./images/smilies/cheers.gif)
Mark Cћамρηeγ
Wine Berserkers, “delight of the incapable and insignificant"!
“Ignorance is a lot like alcohol: the more you have of it, the less you are able to see its effect on you.” — Jay Bylsma
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aka Frabjous/CT
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Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Brilliant!!Mark C wrote:Russ, just get a self-driving refrigerated truck, put wine racks in the back and slave it to the GPS in your RV. It will follow you everywhere and you can put your entire cellar in it. Win-win-win . . . err . . . wine-wine-wine!Russ Williams wrote:Thanks guys!! Yeah, I’m screwed from a storage cost perspective. Anyone have any good insights on a reasonably priced climate controlled storage facility? Domaine Wine Storage is a tad expensive.
Listen to more Jerry, it will heal your soul.
9/1/74 - Keystone Berkeley
9/1/74 - Keystone Berkeley
- Richard T r i m p i
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Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
Wines in shippers on the floor or stashed at the office don't count. They're still "in transit". You're good.J a y H a c k wrote:I need a legal ruling. Do I have to count the wines on the floor of the cellar that do not yet have a home in the slots and bins so I have not yet entered them into Cellartracker? How about the two cases in my office that I haven't brought home yet?
![berserker [berserker.gif]](./images/smilies/berserker.gif)
Haven't done a cellar inventory in like 6+ months....ignorance is bliss.
RT
- dsimmons
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- Location: Anchorage, AK and Rockport, TX
Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
My wife and I started snow birding about 6 years ago. I will guarantee you that the thing you will miss most about home will be access to your cellar. Nothing beats the ability to grab that perfect bottle from the cellar.Russ Williams wrote:My wife had her first reality check conversation with me about the amount of wine I have and the fact we are planning to retire in a few years and go RVing full time. Much work to be done on the inventory reduction front.
D o n
- Paul McCourt
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Monthly check-in: Cellar inventory reduction plan
I guess I need to actually know how many bottles I have first before I can play, right?