Journal
Which wines age best.

Which wines age best.

What makes a wine worth cellaring?

If you’re growing a hobby or have become a wine enthusiast over the past few years, then you’ll be considering a wine cellar build as your next investment - and so you should, we think they’re pretty great. But let’s go back to the basics, here’s our guide on which wines age best if you’re starting out.

10/20/2021

Your price is your investment.

The price of the wine you buy, in most cases, typically resembles the longevity of it. It should age better if you’re purchasing each wine upwards of $20 a bottle.

Under this, and you’ll have a wine that was deliberately formulated to be consumed in the next 5 years. Cheaper bottles tend to rapidly lose their structure and taste profiles with age.

Start your collection with this in mind, and you’ll already be building a strong portfolio.

Consider Tannins.

You might have heard around town that red wines age best compared to whites. This is generally true because they contain a higher concentration of tannins.

A tannin is a naturally occurring polyphenol that’s found in plants like bark and fruit skin, and also kept with the juice during red wine fermentation.

They specifically keep red wines well because they act as a preservative and help give the wine perseverance during ageing.

Acid plays a role.

The acidity of a wine might not be the first thing you think of, when considering which wines age best.

However, acid plays an interesting role in keeping the fruit and balance of the wine. For example; a citrusy riesling today will blossom into an indulgent drink in 10 to 15 years time.

Even wines like the Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir can have their high acidity used to their advantage, and become a delight years down the track.

Patience is fundamental.

At the heart of it comes a wine’s balance and taste. If you’re tasting a wine with full flavor today, it might pay to store and lock it away to flourish into something even more extraordinary.

If it is balanced and well-formulated, has the other components listed above, or you’ve used your own judgement to determine that it has the foundation to prove itself, then set it free by setting it aside.

Mastering the art form.

Cellaring is an art. Navigating for yourself which wines taste best will certainly take a few set backs and misjudgements, in order for you to develop your skills into an ongoing practice.

However, when you do get it right, it will be wholeheartedly rewarding. To keep tabs on your collection during the ageing process, be sure to consider Heritage Vine for your custom wine cellar build.

We’re professionals at integrating leading wine cellar technology to better organize your collection, manage humidity and protect your investment.