For those of you with cabinets, how do you keep track

of what is where? Do you have some kind of system in place. A data base of sorts? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I use Cellar Tracker (cellartracker.com) to keep track of what I have in my whole collection (including cases in my offsite storage). I love it.

In my cabinet I keep things arranged pretty much by region on sliding racks, with doubles or things I don't need to get at in the back of the two stationary racks I have.

Tina

Ditto... cellartracker.

Before that a spreadsheet which is ok, but I find cellartracker easier to maintain.

within racking, no organisation whatsoever, except for the older stuff tends to be in the wine fridge.

regards

Ian

I use a spreadsheet - I've defined row and column numbers, so each place in the cellar has a Row, Col, Position indicator. I have pages for reds in the cellar, reds consumed (a pleasant euphemism!) , whites in the cellar and whites consumed.

Perhaps I should admit that I'm an engineer.

It works well for me, and I can run totals on valuations and types. One of these fine days (I've been promising myself for years now), I'll develop a database. Real soon now.

I've peered at CellarTracker, but somehow it doesn't seem to think the way I do. I have that problem with a lot of programs, especially web-based applications.

One of the great things about Cellar Tracker is that you can see tasting notes from other users, as well as their opinions about drinking windows.

of what is where? Do you have some kind of system in place. A data base of sorts? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

I started out with a spreadsheet, too, identifying each bin with a row and column number, plus a front/back designation. Probably 8-9 years ago, I was given a free copy of a wine database SW package called Multi-media Wine Companion. [It is not sold anymore, and uses an Access database.] It has a few quirks and bugs, but is certainly usable. I periodically export the data to a spreadsheet, which shows every wine by bin designation. I also highlight cells for wines I want to drink soon, and for wines I am reserving for gifts, tastings, etc.

-- Clark

[Jenise]

I'm using an Excel spreadsheet of my own design, but have every intention of moving to Cellar Tracker as soon as I get the old inventory caught up and a few free days to make the changeover. It's so powerful. And I love being able to read other people's TNs.

Cellar Tracker....can't think of what one might want it to do that it doesn't...and it does some things that are downright scary, like keeping track of monthly expenditures.

Having access to thousands of tasting notes of others is a big plus. And there is auto valuation. And one doesn't have to figure out varietal and stuff like that since most wines are already in the data base.

I note the location of each wine using a simple grid (A1, A2, etc.) system. It's a snap.

I started with an excel spreadsheet.
Fields are : location, producer, vintage, appellation, variety, designation, quantity on hand, source, price paid, date acquired
My racks are double deep, so for location I use a combination of capital letter, number, and small letter.
The A1a would designate the first slot in the first row, rear position. J5b would be the fifth slot in the tenth row, outer position. And so on.

I have also fully moved to Cellartracker, and I love it. I maintain both.

[David M. Bueker]

I am on Cellartracker for my total inventory, so I know what I own. As for where it is in the cellar...well...some might say that half the fun is looking for stuff.

I used to use an Access db of my own design, till I switched to CT. I'll echo the praise of others here- can't imagine another way now.

I confess, however, that I am not good about tracking precise location. I have about 1200 bottles. About 450 are listed by the box they are in (mostly in my office basement). About 750 are just listed as "cellar", for my home cellar. I have cellar divided into (fluid) sections, so there are areas for Right Bank Bdx, Medoc, Graves, Burgundy, Alsace, Loire, US, German, etc. But I have to sift through to find particular bottles. It would be easy to devise a plan to plot grids, but haven't yet.

Another vote for Cellartracker.com, here. Everything with a cost of over $10 goes on Cellartracker. I really like the facility that allows one to print out wine lists, too. Seeing what others have rated wine and approximate drinking windows are also kind of cool, although still just an opinion - but the more opinions one has the better, generally.

Well I guess its time for me to check out cellartracker

Yup...Cellartracker here as well.

GREAT tool.

Ihave cellar divided into (fluid) sections, so there are areas for Right Bank Bdx, Medoc, Graves, Burgundy, Alsace, Loire, US, German, etc. But I have to sift through to find particular bottles. It would be easy to devise a plan to plot grids, but haven't yet.

Dale - almost sounds like the "w” word (work) to me, plotting grids and all. I think your cellar's just fine. As a matter of fact, if finding a particular bottle get too bothersome, let me know and I'll come pick up the whole shebang.

I keep (or I should say kept) a spreadsheet. It's been a couple of years since I updated it. I do keep all my bottles of a particular wine together, but I fit them on the cellar shelves where I can. There really isn't any overall organization of the shelving anymore.

-Paul W.

It takes too long to inventory everything electronically and enter data. So I use a file card system. I have two double-deep Vinotemps. I label the rows and columns with letters and numbers, so every bin has a unique combination. There is one card for each bin. I write the name(s) of the 2 bottles on each card.

It takes too long to inventory everything electronically and enter data. So I use a file card system. I have two double-deep Vinotemps. I label the rows and columns with letters and numbers, so every bin has a unique combination. There is one card for each bin. I write the name(s) of the 2 bottles on each card.

All that data is in CellarTracker.. all you have to do is put in the name of the producer, choose the correct wine and enter your grid location... that's it.. and then you don't have to go thru the cards to find what you want.... you can sort alphabetically, by variety, by regions whatever....

Another cellartracker user here. If there's a feature you want, Eric is very receptive to suggestions.

Yup, me too. I have been using CellarTracker for over a year now and am very pleased. It is also possible to download info onto a spreadsheet.
BTW the CT is free, although I know that Eric certainly appreciates paid subscriptions to his service.

Simon

It takes too long to inventory everything electronically and enter data. So I use a file card system. I have two double-deep Vinotemps. I label the rows and columns with letters and numbers, so every bin has a unique combination. There is one card for each bin. I write the name(s) of the 2 bottles on each card.

All that data is in CellarTracker.. all you have to do is put in the name of the producer, choose the correct wine and enter your grid location... that's it.. and then you don't have to go thru the cards to find what you want.... you can sort alphabetically, by variety, by regions whatever....

I do not find the logistics feesible to do electronic data entry in my "cellar" as I put bottles into the racks and move things around. No laptop, no wireless, no nuthin'. Has nothing to do with the capabilities of cellar tracker. Now if there was an automated dictation device that would get all the spellings right in 6 languages that I mangle as I mispronunciate...

Now if there was an automated dictation device that would get all the spellings right in 6 languages that I mangle as I mispronunciate...

Believe it or not Bernard, there is something that is available. I have been using a software called 'Dragon Naturally Speaking' that is hooked up to a microphone and will type what you say (If you are lucky). You can also use it in spelling mode for all those awkward pronunciations.

Simon