Some basic Questions

[Innkeeper]

Hi Yclim, and welcome to the Wine Board. It really isn't necessary to "keep" or "age" any wine. A small rack that holds ten or twelve bottles that will drunk over a month or two can be kept anywhere.

If you feel that you have to store wine, do it in the darkest, coolest place in your abode. Since it is likely that temperatures still won't be ideal you will have to reduce the estimated aging time for the wines.

As we have repeatedly stated here, the overwhelming percentage of wine made in the world can be drunk upon release. This includes almost all whites and rose's, and the majority of reds. If it tells you on the label, so much the better, but with a little reading and a little practice you come to know individual wines.

I imagine that you get alot of Australian wine there. The Aussies have a reputation for releasing approachable wine. Unless you pay well in excess or $20 U.S. for a Australian wine, it is ready to drink with few exceptions. Italian wine that isn't Barolo, Barbereso, or Brunello is also ready to drink for the most part.

Sorry you can't find Beaujolais there. It is a good place to start with red wine. You should have lower priced Australian Shiraz there, and that is also a good place to start with the reds.