How long can you store wine for?
How long can you store wine for?
To answer the question of how long wine can be stored, we first have to look at Vintage, and understand what it means. Simply put, vintage refers to the year that the wine was harvested. Is the vintage of the wine important? Well, if it is a higher end wine, the wine can mature beautifully from the date of release. Both in taste and value (hence the phrase “age like fine wine”). More easy drinking or lower end wine will not place importance on vintage, but you will want to drink it within a couple of years from when it was released. Of course, storing it in a cool, dark environments will prolong the storage time (see verdict section at the end of the article). Let’s first use an amusing, true story to elaborate on the topic…
Vintage Matters
Many years ago, a gentleman living in KZN South Africa, noticed a Wine in checkers with a Liverpool label on it. Being a massive Liverpool fan, he decided to buy the Wine but would only open it when either Liverpool won the league, or when his daughter got married. SEVERAL years went by and Liverpool were yet to meet Jurgen Klopp. His daughter on the other hand had met a wonderful man who, in 2016, she married (he also ended up becoming the founder of WineDrop 6 years later!).
The big day arrived, and Keith the Liverpool fan and Father of the bride had done his speech and it was time to open the wine….but it was missing. While concerned and confused as to where his wine could be, he continued to enjoy the special day. Finally, the wine reappeared on the table where he had been sitting….HALF FINISHED! Yes, someone must have accidentally opened it without reading the label. So why is this relevant?
If Keith’s wine was a well stored fine wine, it could easily have kept for 15 years. More than likely, given that this was not a vintage of any value, it may well have tasted like vinegar causing the accidental wine thieves to check the bottle again and realise their mistake!
Verdict
So to answer the question “How long can you store wine for”? While all wine has a vintage, the quality of the wine is influenced by the climate/region, the soil, grapes, wine-maker and wine making techniques (fermentation process etc). The Wine varietal can also determine the aging potential of the wine.
Quality wine can be stored and mature nicely with time. They will need to be stored at an appropriate cool temperature (7-15 degrees), and on their side to keep the cork moist and prevent crumbling upon opening.
In closing, some wine is best drunk immediately, others can be stored for 2-4 years, others 5-8, 8-10 years and some 15 years or more, maturing into exquisite wines.
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