A great cellar isn’t simply a pile of bottles — it’s a plan. It reflects how you drink, how you entertain and what you want to open five, ten or twenty years from now. Our cellar consulting helps private collectors and restaurants build, organize and enjoy their wine with intention. We bring an editor’s eye and a taster’s palate to the job: practical advice about what to buy and when to drink it, systems that keep you from losing track of a special bottle, and wine lists that make guests excited to order.
At a glance
- Duration: Single 2-hour consultations, half- or full-day organization sessions, or ongoing projects
- Group size: Individual collectors, couples, families or restaurant teams
- Starting price: From $150 per session; larger projects can be billed hourly or as a custom quote
- Availability: Year-round, in person in the Portland area and remotely for strategy and list work
- What’s included: An assessment of your collection or list, written recommendations and a follow-up check-in
What’s included
Every engagement starts with listening. We want to know what you love, what you’ve outgrown and what you wish you had on hand. Depending on your needs, our services include:
- Personal cellar planning. Setting goals for your collection, balancing everyday wines with bottles for aging and building a sensible buying calendar.
- Inventory. Cataloging what you own, noting vintages and suggested drinking windows, and setting you up with a spreadsheet or app-based system you’ll actually use.
- Collection strategy. Identifying gaps, recommending producers and regions to explore and helping you decide what to hold, drink or move on.
- Sourcing and allocations. Guidance on joining winery mailing lists, navigating allocations and finding bottles from small Oregon producers and beyond.
- Cellar organization day. Hands-on sorting, labeling and arranging of your bottles so you can find what you need in seconds.
- Restaurant wine list development. Building or refreshing a list that fits your menu, price points and service style.
- Event wine selection. Choosing and quantifying wines for weddings, dinners and celebrations.
How it works
- Initial conversation. A short call to understand your goals, your space and your budget.
- Assessment. We review your current collection, storage setup or wine list, either on site or from photos and an existing inventory.
- Recommendations. You receive a written plan with clear, prioritized next steps.
- Hands-on work. If you choose, we roll up our sleeves for inventory, organization or list building.
- Follow-up. A check-in a few weeks later to answer questions and adjust the plan.
Who it’s for
New collectors who have started buying and want a framework before the closet fills up. Established collectors who have lost track of what they own or what’s ready to drink. People who have inherited wine and aren’t sure where to begin. Homeowners planning a cellar who want advice on capacity and organization before construction. Restaurants, wine bars and cafés that need a fresh, focused list or want to bring their existing list in line with a new menu. And event hosts who want the right wines in the right quantities without the guesswork.
You don’t need a vaulted, temperature-controlled room to benefit. Some of our favorite projects begin with a few cases stacked in a closet and a vague sense that something special is hiding at the bottom. Whether you own fifty bottles or several thousand, the goal is the same: drink each wine at its best, buy with confidence and spend less time wondering what you have.
Sample deliverables
What you receive depends on the scope of your project. Typical deliverables include:
| Project | Deliverables | Typical timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy session | Written collection goals, a buying plan by category and a list of producers and regions to explore | One session plus a summary within a week |
| Inventory and drinking windows | A complete inventory spreadsheet or app setup with vintages, locations and suggested drink-by ranges | One to two sessions, depending on size |
| Cellar organization day | Sorted, labeled and arranged storage with a simple location system | Half day or full day on site |
| Restaurant wine list | A draft list with structure, descriptions, pricing guidance and pairing notes for staff | Two to four weeks, including revisions |
| Event wine selection | Wine recommendations, quantity estimates and a purchasing list | One to two weeks before your event |
Add-ons & options
- Ongoing retainer. Seasonal check-ins to update your inventory, flag bottles that are ready and suggest new purchases.
- Staff training. Pair a new wine list with a hands-on staff training session so servers can sell it with confidence.
- List copywriting. Polished, evocative wine descriptions from our writing team.
- Cellar tasting night. A guided tasting of bottles from your own collection for you and your guests.
- Remote consultations. Strategy and list sessions by video call for clients outside the Portland area.
Good to know
- Pricing. Sessions start at $150; organization days, inventories and restaurant lists are quoted based on size and scope. Some projects are billed by the hour.
- Independence. We don’t sell wine. Our recommendations are based on your goals, not on inventory we need to move.
- Purchases. Wine purchases are made directly by you from retailers and wineries; we provide guidance only. We don’t provide investment, appraisal or insurance valuation services.
- Cancellations. Please review our terms of use for cancellation and rescheduling policies.
- 21+ and responsible enjoyment. Our services involving tasting are for adults 21 and over. If a session ends with a tasting, please never drink and drive.
For a head start, read our guide to building a home wine cellar.
Ready to bring order and purpose to your wine? Schedule a cellar consultation and tell us a little about your collection or list.
Frequently asked questions
How much does cellar consulting cost?
Sessions start from $150. Organization days, inventories and restaurant wine lists are quoted individually, and some projects are billed hourly.
Do I need a large collection to hire you?
Not at all. We work with collections of every size, from a few cases in a closet to dedicated cellars with thousands of bottles.
Do you sell wine?
No. We don’t sell wine, so our recommendations are based on your goals. You purchase directly from retailers and wineries using our guidance.
Can you build a wine list for our restaurant?
Yes. We develop or refresh wine lists to fit your menu, price points and service style, and can add staff training and list copywriting.
