I've herad that some people buy a bottle of wine when a child is born and keep it until she or he turns 21. Is it a special kind of wine that one has to buy or any wine will be vinegar when opened?
2007-01-22 00:34:29 · 14 answers · asked by jeob32 2 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
If only there were a simple answer. Some wines are built for age — many good Bordeaux and Barolos, for example, need at least five or 10 years before they start tasting the way they should. Others truly are meant for that parking lot.
I wish there were a simple rule of thumb to tell you when to open. There isn't. While more expensive wines certainly should be age-worthy, that's not always true. A lot of good Condrieu — sublime viognier from a tiny patch of the northern Rhone — costs more than $50, yet it peaks after just a few years.
As for specific bottlings, many wine magazines now do the service of including in their reviews when a wine will peak. Wineries often can tell you as well. But with all the uncertainties in wine storage, it's really all an educated guess.
One rule that does generally apply: Drink cheaper wine (and I'm talking here about under $10) within six months to a year from when you buy it. Yellow Tail isn't designed for the cellar, which isn't to say you can't enjoy it.
2007-01-22 00:38:30 · answer #1 · answered by cutie girl 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You can do that - if you buy the right wine. A rule of thumb is that truly great wines (like first and second growth bordeauxs, good burgundies) can sit for over 20 years and be absolutely fabulous, but it will not likely be a cheap bottle of wine. The vintage year and the tannin structure of a wine make all all of the difference in determining if a wine will mature well and hold or hit it's peak quickly and go downhill just as fast. A good solid port can last over 50 years! But, like all thing the conditions in which you store these will also determine if they will be great years down the road. I recently had a 1974 Borolo and it was fabulous! White wines generally don't have the tannins that a wine needs to have a long shelf life. Red wines usually ferment with the skins which is what gives red wine that dark rich color and also provides the tannic structure along with the stems. The length of time that the tannin producers are left with the juice varys. You will have to spend a little more for a good solid wine that will age well but there are a lot of them out there these days o choose from!
Last, re storage, I rent a storage unit where the temperature is consistant, the wine is not exposed to light and the humidity is right (if it is too high you get mildew, if it is too low your corks dry out). Refrigerators are not good long term storage unless they are wine refigerators. One final note on storage, you should keep wine on its side but, don't forget, you should turn your bottles everynow and then too.
2007-01-22 08:59:28 · answer #2 · answered by whome 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It all depends on the wine. A bottle has a definite life, and depending on the varietal and vintage, can mature anywhere from 2 to 20+ years. Your best bet is to find a vintner that traditionally produces wines that take a lot longer to mature. For example: an old vine zinfandel(red) usually matures in about 3 years, on average, whereas some french reds take much longer. Some research is involved with buying a bottle that you want to keep for that long, and there are no guarantees. All that you can do is check some wine magazines regularly to see of that bottle has matured or is passing its peak. Good luck!
2007-01-22 08:44:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your wine will not expire for many years if kept in a cool dark place -- but its flavor will change slowly. For example, a bottle of Dom Perignon that has been aged for 25 years will NOT taste the same as a bottle of Dom Perignon that was corked last week.
The fact is that the wine is probably at its best for drinking now or during the next year. There is no real point in keeping it -- if you want a bottle to drink in 5 years time, simply by an aged bottle of wine at that time.
2007-01-22 08:39:34 · answer #4 · answered by uabsupercow 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you buy a decent bottle, you don’t have to spend a boat load on it any where from $15 to $30, if you keep it in a dark cool place it can last for a very long time. When you store it you want to store it cork end down. If you leave it cork end up the cork will dry and possibly let air in, this will destroy the wine. The cork stays moist the bottle stays sealed.
2007-01-22 08:41:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Store the bottle on it's side. Do not buy a cheap wine. Go to your local wine shop and they will be able to recommend a good wine to hold for 20 years.
2007-01-22 08:39:40 · answer #6 · answered by tbear 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
DO your research. Find a promising vineyard that is known for good quality. If a wine is not good quality at the time of purchase then it more than likely won't get much better once the years pass. Now a good wine has it's peak years when it is at it's prime. Doing research will make sure you purchase a wine worth celebrating at your celebration.
2007-01-22 19:17:30 · answer #7 · answered by Jayne 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as the wine is kept at a constant temperature (either refridgerated, or out of sunlight), it will keep indefinitely.
I have 7 bottles of wine (with varying amounts) in my fridge.....at least 3 date back to the day my hubby and I married (and that was a while ago.......hahaha). Every anniversary, we open one of them and share a glass, and have yet to had any taste wrong.
2007-01-22 08:38:28 · answer #8 · answered by Critter Lady 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A good wine should last for years unopened, if stored properly.
2007-01-22 08:37:07 · answer #9 · answered by MOM KNOWS EVERYTHING 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i would have thought you could keep it forever we have just made wine so i will keep 1 bottle and try it
2007-01-22 09:04:34 · answer #10 · answered by Sammy H 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋