Inspired by friends, he began collecting wine in 1990, focusing on Bordeaux and Tuscan vintages starting with1986 and 1988. To deepen his expertise, he completed formal training, subscribed to trade journals, and built an extensive reference library. He regularly attended private tastings and SAQ Courrier vinicole dinners, culminating in an SAQ trip to Bordeaux where he visited and tasted legendary Premier Grands Crus. He also put an unused wine cellar in his home to work housing his growing collection. The vast majority of this collection was purchased from the SAQ, LCBO Vintages, and a few bottles were sourced in Florida at ABC liquor. All bottles in his collection have been strictly stored in a dark, temperature- and humidity-controlled basement cellar using regularly maintained Transtherm and EuroCave units. To preserve their condition during transport to Iron Gate in Calgary, the bottles were packed in insulated styrofoam boxes to guard against light and shock.