Cellar and Aging FAQ

Q. How long after bottling should I wait to drink my wine?
A. That depends on the wine, generally higher end kits need more time to age than more inexpensive kits, reds need longer than whites, dry wines need longer than off-dry and more full-bodied wines need longer than lighter, fruitier wines. Our “Cellaring Tips” handout gives you an approximate length of time.

Q. The Cellaring Tips Handout says I need to wait 6 months to drink my wine, really?
A. The flavour of wine is like an arc, it will improve over time and reach a peak, then the quality will start to decline. You can drink the wine sooner but it will not be the best tasting for sometime.

Q. How long will my wine last?
A. That depends on a few factors: storage conditions, the type of corks you used, the amount of sulfites you added and the type of wine. Four-week wine kits will last 12-16 months, Six-week wines will last two to three years. If you want to keep your wine over 6 months add an extra ¼ teaspoon potassium metabisulfite. Red wines will typically last longer than whites and remember storage is important!

Q. How should I store my wine?
A. Ideally it should be in a dark, humid, cool (12°-15°C/55°-60°F) place with little temperature fluctuation and no movement. If you’ve used natural cork store the wine on it’s side, if you’ve used synthetic it can be stored standing up.

Q. Can I store my wine in my fridge then?
A. That is not a great place to store wine long-term because it is too cool, too dry and is generally vibrating.

Q. After three years has my wine turned to vinegar, what happens?
A. Wine doesn’t ever just “turn to vinegar,” vinegar-making is an entirely separate process. The wine will start to oxidize, you will notice the flavour is not as nice as it once was. The wine will not be as fruity and fresh tasting, it may be flat and flavourless.