How long should wine be aged?

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. The question always arises; how long should I age this wine? On today’s program we’re continuing to address collecting wines.

Most of the wines made today are ready to drink when they are released. Most white wines can still be fresh for two to three years. And red wines; even the ones that are showing all of the signs of being most age-worthy, most likely will reach their peak between five and ten years. After this, the wines will develop qualities that are really a matter of experience and personal preference. But the conditions of the cork and storage will play a major role in how well the wine fairs beyond ten years. Taste the wines before you purchase them to make certain they have all of the important components for aging. Meaning good fruit flavors, a nice touch of acidity and in the case of reds, firm tannins. If it is out of whack to begin with it, it likely won’t be improving with age. It’s always a dilemma for collectors to decide when to open their favorite wines. Drinking older vintages can be fun and nostalgic and often makes people overlook the fact that the wine is over the hill. Usually if a wine is able to maintain its’ quality over time, that is fortunate, because few improve dramatically with lengthy aging. They change yes, but those changes are in some cases an acquired taste.  You can always contact the producer for advice on aging potential. But I ask you - if a wine tastes good to you now, what’s wrong with drinking it now? And thanks for joining me on today’s Vine to Wine.