What's the longest I should wait before opening a bottle of wine?

Question

My husband and I always get a bottle of wine when we go on vacation---kind of our "souvenir." We've sometimes waited a year to drink it, and we've wondered if that's good or not. It's not like we get very expensive wine---maybe $30 a bottle, at most---so we've wondered if it "ages" like more expensive wines. We tend to get sweeter wines, like Riesling or blush, so I don't know if that makes a difference in how long it should be in the bottle. Thoughts?

Answer 1

Many wines, especially white and sweeter wines, do not age well.  Many dry reds do age well and will improve.

However, I guess the amount of time before opening could be the amount of time it takes for you to get to your cork s***w.

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Answer 2

Generally, age benefits reds and hurts whites. Riesling will be best before it's reached the five year point.

Answer 3

You don't say what kind of wine it is! Generally, as stated, reds do fine in bottles for far longer than whites, but the conditions (temperature, humidity and exposure to light) under which wine is kept will affect its shelf-life.

Talk to a knowledgeable wine merchant. It's a good thing to get to one anyway and to buy something from occasionally to establish a relationship. They can educate you about wine in general and specific types as well. It would not hurt if you educated yourself, as well, by going to a library or buying a book or two and reading about wines.

As for aging, many people will buy a good vintage and then "cellar-age" it in the bottle for a number of years. All other conditions being right, that often mellows a wine, where drinking it only a year or two after harvesting it would be a waste.

I've bought reds and whites directly from growers/makers in Italy and drunk the white up to 10 years later and the reds up to 15 years later with no problem, although people predicted ahead of time that it wouldn't be good. The type of wine, its acidity and tannin level, the way it was made and the way it was transported, as well how YOU kept it  will determine how the wine keeps and ultimately how it tastes.

If you like Riesling, have you tried Gewurtztraminer or Zeller Schwartzkatz (sp?)? Germany, California, Australia and South Africa all produce good varieties. Christian Brothers' sweet wines are a good value as well.

Take a look at my picture and tell me I don't have a reason not to drink!

Answer 4

the aging process of wine has ended once it left the aging keg and entered the bottle.  it will not get better, but it can get worse by turning into vinegar.  so, enjoy at will.

Answer 5

if you like the idea of a aging wine look at this months food and wine they give alot of good name wines that will age nicely, reisling however is one of those wines that really doesnt improve with age.