> How long does wine last, is it best to keep it refrigerated or leave
> at room temp and turn bottles periodically?
Your typical inexpensive table wines are at their best 2-3 years after their
bottling year, and more or less go downhill after that. A big misconception
is that you can go to the grocery store, buy a 10 dollar bottle of wine, and
store it in your cellar for 10 years, and have a great aged wine. NO, no, no.
Remember - wine is made from grapes. Grapes are a perishable food, and they
will go bad, no matter what form they are in. However, don't let that make
you throw away an old wine - always open and smell/taste it to make sure it
isn't bad. If it tastes or smells at all like vinegar, it's gone bad.
BUT! Expensive, well-made wines made from experienced winemakers with a
reputation for aged wines can, and will store for years and years, especially
ports. Wherever you buy wine, always try to talk to someone who works there
to find out what wine they have that's best for storing.
When you do store wine, you want to keep it cool and dark (your basement, a
closet, a cellar...always somewhere dark and cool, but refrigeration is
unnecessary). It's best to store the bottles either sideways or upside down -
this keeps the cork in contact with the wine, preventing it from drying out
and breaking inside the bottle. Turning the bottles is kindof unnecessary,
unless, again, you're planning on storing wine for a sizeable amount of time.
If you find the need to turn the bottles, you'll also find the need for a
decanter in most cases.
The above info is what I've been learning in a winemaking and wineries class
for the past couple months, and i am in no way a big wine connisseur. (I like
to think that I am, until I meet the actual winemakers, then I realize I'm
just someone who likes wine. ::grin::) If anyone else can add to this
subject, or correct me if I'm wrong somewhere, that would be appreciated.
--
~*~ "Earthquakes save you the trouble of stirring your drink." ~*~