Wine Advisor Stories: 500 Bottles at 8,000 Feet

500 Bottles at 8,000 Feet
We’ve celebrated his milestones—now we’re building his cellar.

For 15 years, Sami lived in a small apartment in Tribeca. No cellar, no storage…just a countertop wine rack and a deep appreciation for the right bottle at the right moment.

He stayed there through promotions, career growth, and the gradual climb of someone building something meaningful. And along the way, he called us whenever it mattered.

A big pitch win? We found the bottle.
A thank-you gift for a client? We made sure it stood out.
A birthday dinner he wanted to get just right? We were on it.

But we always looked forward to his call in February.

That’s when Sami would start planning for his favorite two weeks of the year: his annual ski trip to Steamboat Springs. Like clockwork, his biggest wine order of the year would arrive just before he left the city:

      ✅ Bold reds for hearty meals and snowed-in nights.

      ✅ Champagne for après-ski.

      ✅ Something memorable for the final night around the fire.

This year, the call was different.

“I did it. I just bought a place in Steamboat. There’s a 500-bottle cellar in the basement. I’m finally ready to start collecting.”After years of short stays, temporary setups, and just-in-time bottles, Sami finally had a space that could hold everything he’d been working toward—not just the wine, but the lifestyle he always dreamed of.

The first step was about comfort: a solid supply of his favorite producers. These were the bottles he used to scramble to track down, hoping they’d arrive in time. Now, they’re simply there, waiting.

Next came the guest-ready bottles. Sami’s generous. He wants friends and clients to feel at home when they stay at the house, and that means having wines that are impressive, but approachable—wines people won’t hesitate to open.

But generosity has its counterpart. A section of the cellar will be locked. And inside? The showpieces. A few benchmark Napa Cabernets. Some old-world reds with serious aging potential. And, of course, a dedicated section for après-ski grower Champagne—because for Sami, the quality of the toast is just as important as the the quality of the powder.

To get started, we built an initial pallet order, timed to arrive the same day the moving truck pulled into the driveway. After that, Sami gave us a five-year budget and complete trust.

Now, when we find something that belongs in his cellar, we process it to his account, store it safely at Wine Spectrum, and ship it when he’s heading to the mountains.

It’s a cellar built with purpose. And we’re just getting started.