Building a Reading Cellar for Under $30 a Bottle

For celebratory reads and happy endings. Crémant from Burgundy, Loire or Alsace is made the same way as Champagne and costs a fraction of the price. Cava and English sparkling wine are also excellent.

For light reads, summer afternoons and seaside novels. Aim for variety: a dry Riesling, a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire, and something a little unusual — an Assyrtiko, an Albariño or a Grüner Veltliner.

For most fiction, most evenings. A Beaujolais cru, a Pinot Noir and a Chianti Classico cover a huge range, from playful to pensive. All are light enough to drink slowly over a long chapter.

For epics, gothic novels and winter nights. A Northern Rhône Syrah and a Rioja Reserva or Saperavi will do the heavy lifting.

For nightcaps and final chapters. A tawny port and a Madeira or amontillado sherry will both last for weeks once opened, so you can enjoy a single glass at a time.

Somewhere dark, steady and not too warm: a closet floor or a cupboard away from the stove is fine. Lay corked bottles on their side if you plan to keep them more than a few months.