Oregon Wine Information Blog

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2008 - Varietal Wine

The Best Articles on Varietal Wine

Aging Wine


Wine is a complex substance. Open a bottle of it now, and it may taste fine. Open a bottle of the same wine several years from now, and the wine becomes something else entirely. Rough edges in the flavor will have smoothed out and the overall flavor of the wine will be more balanced and mellow.

Why age wine? Well, as stated above, the many components of the wine will mellow out over time, and bring a harmonious balance to the flavor of the wine. The tannins, present in red wine, bring a bitter and astringent flavor. Given time, the tannins help to age the wine. As wine ages, the tannins precipitate out of the wine, leaving a smoother and more mellow flavor. As the wine ages, the acids will lose a bit of their bite, allowing the fruit to come out more. As the components of the wine age, they also bring more complexity to the flavor. What you end up with after several years of proper aging is a complex and balanced wine.

What wines should be aged? There are certain guidelines as to what wines should and should not be aged, but they are simply guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Most wines from California are meant to be consumed immediately, and should not be aged. Most white wines should not be aged, as they have a lower amount of tannins than red wine. It is the tannins that are present in red wine that allow the wine to age well. There are a few white wines, however that will improve with a couple of years of aging. Most wines under $25 don't need to be aged. Many French wines are meant to age and mature over several years. There are exceptions to these rules. Go into a wine shop, and ask which wines they would recommend for aging. They can recommend several good wines, along with some ideas of how long to age the wine.

How do I age wine? Proper storage is essential for a wine to age well. Cooler temperatures slow down the aging process, allowing time for the complexity of the wine to develop. The wine should be stored at a constant temperature of 50-60 degrees F. Fluctuating temperatures will cause the wine and the cork to expand and contract, loosening the cork, and exposing the wine to oxygen. The wine should be stored on it's side, so that the wine is in contact with the cork, preventing it from drying out. The storage area should be dark, and have plenty of moisture to keep the cork from drying, which may loosen it, and subject the wine to oxidation.

Once you have a proper storage area for your wine, go to your local wine shop, and get their recommendations on a good aging wine. Buy a case of wine, and then open up one of the bottles when you get home and taste it. Put the rest of the bottles in storage, and start opening them after a couple of years, and note how the flavors and the complexity of the wine have changed. A new bottle of wine may be good, but a properly aged bottle is even better.


About the Author:

Learn more about wine and wine producing regions around the world. Visit Wine Country Guide.





Thoughts about Varietal Wine

Aging Wine


Wine is a complex substance. Open a bottle of it now, and it may taste fine. Open a bottle of the same wine several years from now, and the wine becom...


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Varietal Wine Items For Viewing

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Current Varietal Wine News

I Love Italian Wine And Food - Riserva Wines

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:46:26 PDT
Did you ever wonder what the word Riserva on an Italian wine label means? Does it guarantee a fine wine? Can it still be a bargain? This short article will try to answer these questions, and review a Riserva wine that I recently tasted.

Wine Review: Louis Latour Puligny Montrachet 2002

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:17:51 PDT
Our love of wine knows no bounds, and we examine the 2002 Louis Latour Puligny Montrachet, a wine from one of the finest producers in Europe. Can it live up to the lofty expectations, or is it simply another overhyped French white? Read more.

Review of Marrakesh Restaurant - Morocco - Epcot

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:40:10 PDT
The Moroccan pavilion at Epcot in Walt Disney World has an excellent restaurant hidden away in the back of the pavilion called the Marrakesh Restaurant which has some excellent dishes, great mint tea, wine and entertainment.

Australia California France Italy wine tasting review

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:23:02 PDT
This page introduces different countries' wine like Burley Fox Limestone Coast Shiraz, Héritage du Château Touraine, Villagiachi Chianti, Villa Masetti Pinot Grigio, Chateau Andrea Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakton Lane Monterey Chardonnay

I Love Italian Wine And Food - Amarone And Friends

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:00:43 PDT
This article reviews a fine, distinctive Italian red wine and its more pedestrian cousins. I look at several food pairings. Was it a bargain?

Leather Gift Items, Royce Leather Wine Tote, Toiletry Bag

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:25:54 PDT
Review of Leather Gift Items - Royce Leather wine tote and mens toiletry bag. Top quality leather gift maker features detailed review on to fine leather gifts. www.leathergiftitems.com

Radioindy Review of "New Wine" by Realign

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:59:30 PDT
"New Wine” is a progressive Christian hard rock album from Realign, a tight band with a cutting edge sound. The listener is immediately pulled in by Realign’s awesome driving guitar sound that, combined with energetic yet sensitive vocals and a killer rhythm section, is a recipe for a winner. http://www.radioindy.com/bands/4605/


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