Is your New Year's resolution to finally develop a modest wine collection? Here are tips and hints to help.

You don't need to spend a lot of money to begin a modest wine "cellar." You can gather diverse wines, ready for drinking, for about $200. Follow these guidelines and you will be off to a great start:

1. Educate yourself by visiting your local public library. You can read wine columns in major newspapers. Many libraries also subscribe to food magazines that feature wine articles. Travel magazines often feature news about wineries from around the world.
2. Visit various wine stores and just browse the shelves. Ask if the store hosts wine tastings. This is a great way to find new wines and compare similar wines. Don't forget the shelf "talkers." These are the small signs offering reviews of the wines. Be certain to compare the vintage on the "talker" with the actual wine.
3. Read reviews. Here at BellaOnline Wine we offer many wine reviews. You can also ask about a wine on the discussion board. Find out what other enophiles think of a particular wine.
4. Visit various winery websites. Go to the category section on the BellaOnline Wine homepage. To the left you will find many subjects with links to wineries and education sites. You can see the reviews and awards given to various wines. Don't forget the event listings. This is a fun way to gather knowledge.
5. Stay under $25 until you feel more secure about your choices. You can find good quality wines in the $10-$25 range that will you will enjoy. You won't feel guilty about drinking these wines.
6. Invest in a wine refrigerator. Nothing kills wine quicker than too cold or too hot temperatures. You can purchase a good refrigerator that holds 34 bottles for about $250.
7. Plan your inventory. Feature a range of wines. Don't buy wines you know you don't like, but don't over buy in one type of wine. When you need to pull out a Pinot Noir to go with that pork roast, you don't want to only find heavy reds.

Whites

• Sauvignon Blancs. Try the 2001 Geyser Peak Winery. It's available for about $11.
• Chardonnay. The 2000 Columbia Crest Winery Chardonnay Grand Estates "Columbia Valley" is a good buy for $10.
• Pinot Grigio. The 2001 Paradiso Pinot Grigio is the perfect summer wine. Also an excellent choice for your pink wine friends.
• Pinot Blanc. The 1999 Trimbach Pinot Blanc is a great introduction to Alsacian wines.

Reds

• Barbera. The Icardi Barbera d'Alba Suri Di Mu is more pricy at $22 per bottle, but it's worth it. The 1999 received 92 points from Robert Parker.
• Chianti. Look for the rooster on quality Chianti labels. The Antinori Villa Chianti Riserva is an excellent example of what Chianti should be. Be prepared to pay about $17 per bottle.
• Zinfandel. Turn to California for quality Zins. The Monte Vina Zinfandel is a good choice for about $17.

There are other wines you should include as well, Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Gewürztraminer, Shiraz, and Riesling. Play with some of the offerings from Australia, Chile, and South Africa. They offer good quality for little money. Don't be afraid to experiment. Find what you enjoy. Your wine collection should be for your use and pleasure.