Cakebread Wine Topics
Ageing Wine

Why age a wine? Most wines, especially whites, are fresh, crisp and fruity on release and best enjoyed young. But certain fine wines, especially reds permitted to mature over time in bottle, can develop tremendous complexity. A red wine’s youthful purple-red hue may shade into mahogany while whites will develop a deeper golden hue. The ‘bouquet’ of a mature wine (the complex interplay of aromas that develops with bottle age) will become less forward and fruity, but more complex and interesting. In both reds and ageworthy whites, flavors will develop a richer, rounder, softer tone.

Many factors determine whether a particular wine can age well. In general, the better balanced a wine’s various components – body, flavor, acidity and, in the case of red wines, tannin – the greater its life expectancy. A wine in good balance when young will remain so when older.

Although few people age white wines as frequently as reds, whites made from certain varieties, vintages and regions – such as Chardonnays from cooler growing districts like southern Napa Valley and Carneros – can develop and mature well over several years, especially if they possess naturally high acidity levels, which are associated with cooler growing conditions.

Not all wines, of course, benefit from aging. Many lack the requisite fruit intensity, phenolics (tannins) and natural acidity essential to long-term aging. Most simple table, jug and box wines are not intended to age for more than one year. In addition, certain wine types, like White Zinfandel, Pinot Grigio and Beaujolais, typically do not benefit from time in bottle. However, there are some dessert wines made from white grape varieties, such as sweet, late-harvest Rieslings and French Sauternes, which can age well for many years.

In general, red wines take longer to mature than whites. Nonetheless, it’s wise to avoid over-aging your reds. The quality of your wine storage area will have a major effect on the longevity of your wines, so make sure it’s as consistently cool, dark and free of vibration as possible. (See our leaflet “Proper Wine Storage” for more information.) If you’re unsure about the age-worthiness of a wine you’re purchasing, ask the winery that made it for advice.

The following table provides general guidelines for maturing your wines based on proper storage conditions. Note that they pertain specifically to Cakebread wines and may not be applicable to other wines in these varietal categories.

Ageing Suggestions

Red Wines

White Wines