How long are you meant to keep red wine before you drink it?!
How long are you meant to keep red wine before you drink it?
Answers:
It depends entirely on the conditions in which you can keep the wine and which wines you buy. For example, I have no storage space...wine lives in my kitchen, which gets hot and cold (from cooking). In 6 months, bottles often have turned a bit bad. If you keep wine in very good conditions, 55 degrees Fahrenheit in the dark, no vibrations, not too dry, good air circulation, even wines that are best drunk within the year of their bottling can sometimes be pleasant 10 years later (no promises, though). Basic guidelines, I'd say:
Loire/St. Pourçain/Beaujolais/Gamay/Cabe... Franc: Drink young...3-18 months after bottling.
C?tes-du-Rhone/Syrah/Shiraz: can be drunk young but ages alright. Don't expect miracles with aging.
Burgundy/Pinot Noir: low end ones are generally best drunk at between 18 months and 36 months, even sometimes a bit cool. Higher end ones can benefit greatly from aging and are more complex, coarse, and earthy.
Bordeaux/Cabernet Sauvignon/Blends/Merlot: age very well. Low end you can expect to be drunk at between 2 and 10 years, better ones you should save until they're at least 7 years old if from a good year, and the better they are, the longer you should keep them, conditions permitting. The very top ones (Bordeaux grands crus) you can easily drink at between 20 and 50 years old.
Red Zin: I think it's best a bit aged (5-10 years) but don't have much knowledge/experience.
Brunello de Montalcino and other fine Sangioveses gain greatly with age and develop fast upon opening also.
Most wines you get are usually able to be opened right away. They have been aged a sufficent amount of time before they are sold. It also doesn't hurt if you store it away for a rainy day either, just make sure it is in a cool dark place. Wine gets better with age but sometimes not much better.
As long as you like. The older the wine the sweeter the taste!
Some wines are actually best drunk young (under 2 years).
Aging accentuates the complexity of some wines, like French Bordeaux and Cabernet. However, you wouldn't be able to buy them if they had to be aged further before drinking. The winery makes sure of that.
It's always a good idea to ask whether aging will benefit a particular wine when purchasing it. If the seller is unsure, you can check the winery's website.
15 million yrs *****
Many of these answers are filled with some truth...not the 15 million years...but your best bet is to go to a reputable wine shop and talk to the owner. If he/she is worth their weight in wine they can tell you which ones can age and which ones can be opened now. Most of the time, the ones that can be aged are going to be cabernet's, the rest can be enjoyed now! Good Luck.
if your going to store it then lay it down and keep up to 12 months thats my motto then invite us over for a b.b.q. cheers the aussies
kept cool a long time. if you want red wine vingar keep in a warm place.
As long as you keep the wine at room temp or a little below and the cork stays wet(laying on it's side like in a wine rack), you should be able to keep a red wine, as long as it remains unopened, it will keep and not turn to vinegar. After you open your wine you may have 4 days to a week to consume it. Any longer give it up and use it to cook with if it starts to turn slightly. They do sell at some stores little pumps that you can pop a rubber cork in your wine bottle and then vacuum out the air extending shelf life a little longer. Enjoy!
you can keep it forever if it is stored in a cool dark place, i.e. a wine cellar or cooler.
Most wines are packaged to be opened up right away and enjoyed. You may keep them longer of course, but I think all the appropriate aging has happened prior to it being made available to you.