Wine Storage

The best way to store wine is in a cool, damp cellar, which is preferably odorless, dark and free of vibrations. An average temperature of 10 - 12 ° C is ideal for wine storage.

And when do you enjoy which wine?

For the professional, a temperature controlled wine cabinet that simulates the optimal conditions of the wine cellar, is recommended as an alternative.

If you don't have such ideal conditions, you don't have to do without a small wine supply. A cool place in the apartment, where the temperatures do not fluctuate too much, also suffices. Often this is the bedroom, even if this sounds strange at first. There is always a place under the bed for a few bottles of good wine. Basically, the higher the ambient temperature, the faster the wine matures, so permanent temperatures above 20 ° C are to be avoided if possible, as are strong smells or exposure to light.

Wine closures determine the type of storage

For long-term storage, wines that are closed with corks should be kept lying down so that the cork does not dry out and shrink. Additional protection for premium wines is provided by sealing the cork with a special sealing wax. Cork-sealed wines that are intended to be consumed within 1 - 2 years can also be stored upright, as the moisture from inside the bottle keeps the cork sufficiently moist.

Wines with plastic corks, screw caps, bottle caps or glass caps can be safely stored upright.

Potential for aging increases with quality

Every wine is individual, therefore life expectancy differs. In general, however, it can be said that the higher the alcohol, sweetness, acidity and - in the case of red wine - tannins, the longer the wines can age. It depends on the sum of these components. This means that noble sweet wines such as Trockenbeerenauslesen or ice wines, which have a fresh acidity and sufficient alcohol content, can be stored for 20 years or even longer. They often attain their full maturity and elegance after aging for several years so make exceptional gifts for very special occasions, such as weddings. It can be memorable to enjoy a wine from your year of birth.

Premium red wines with a high tannin content and 13% or more alcohol volume can also remain stable for decades, especially if they are also aged in barrels. Basic quality dry wines should be drunk within 3 years. In the premium range, 5-10 years are not a problem for dry wines. With Spätlesen and Auslesen wines, especially of the more acidic Riesling variety, the wine can be stored a little longer.

Sparkling wine tastes best fresh. Branded sparkling wines should be bought as soon as possible before consumption and stored for a maximum of one year. Winzersekt, made with the traditional bottle fermentaion, can tolerate 2-3 years of storage. Rosé and Weißherbst taste best when drunk young, because the pronounced fruit flavors come to the fore most clearly in the first few years. They are rarely intended for long storage, so they should be consumed within 1-2 years.

When buying wines that are intended for a longer storage, it is advisable to buy a little more because it is extremely exciting to repeatedly try the same wine every few years and follow its maturity. With this in mind, the rule of thumb is to store 3x30 bottles of wine rather than 30x3 bottles. For many wine connoisseurs, choosing the time of perfect maturity and then drinking the wine at its peak on a special occasion is the greatest joy. However, it also requires a little practice and you should also seek the advice of experts or the winemaker from whom the wine was bought. Specialist books or special wine seminars on the subject are also helpful.

From which century is the oldest still liquid wine in the world?

The oldest still liquid wine dates back to the 4th century. The bottle was discovered in a grave in 1867 and can now be seen in the Historical Museum of the Palatinate in Speyer.

Varietals

More recipe ideas

the "Frankfurt Green Sauce" Quiche with herbs

the "Frankfurt Green Sauce"

  • 200 Gramm Mehl
  • 100 Gramm Butter
  • je 1 Bund Kräuter für Frankfurter Grüne Sauce (Petersilie, Kresse, Kerbel, Borretsch, Sauerampfer, Schnittlauch, Pimpernelle)
  • 100 - 125 Gramm Schwarzwälder Schinken
  • 7 ganze Eier
  • 125 ml Sahne
  • 100 Gramm Frischkäse
  • 1 EL Zitronensaft
  • nach Geschmack Salz & Pfeffer

Knead the flour and butter with 4 tbsp water and a teaspoon of salt to form a smooth dough. Line a mould with it and leave to cool for 30 minutes.</p

 

Hard boil 4 eggs. Wash, drain and finely chop the herbs from the Frankfurt green sauce. Cut the ham into wafer-thin slices and spread on the pastry base. Chop the hard-boiled eggs into small

and spread over the top. Mix the 3 eggs, cream and fresh cheese and season with 1 tbsp lemon juice, salt and pepper, then fold in the herbs. Spread the mixture over the pastry base.

 

Bake at 180 °C (gas mark 4) on the middle shelf of the oven for about 30 minutes.

  • Riesling (trocken)

a Christmassy dessert Plum roaster with cinnamon ice cream

a Christmassy dessert

  • 1 kg Zwetschgen (frisch oder TK)
  • 100 Gramm Zucker
  • 0.5 TL gemahlener Zimt
  • Eine Prise Nelkenpulver
  • 50 ml Pflaumenschnaps
  • 50 Gramm dunkler Rohrzucker
  • 2 EL alter Balsamicoessig
  • 200 Gramm Zucker
  • 4 Eigelb
  • 500 ml Sahne

Plum rings:

Wash, deseed and quarter the plums. Spread the sugar evenly in a non-stick pan and melt slowly over a medium heat. Increase the temperature and immediately add the fruit, schnapps and spices. Stir until the mixture caramelises.

Stir in the muscovado sugar and balsamic vinegar, spread onto a cold plate after approx. 3 minutes.

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Cinnamon ice cream:

Combine the sugar and egg yolks and stir the two ingredients over a bain-marie until frothy.

Whip the cream, then carefully mix both mixtures and add three teaspoons of cinnamon. Carefully mix the cinnamon into the mixture again.

Pour the finished mixture into any (cake) tin or small dish, cover with aluminium foil and place in the freezer for at least three hours.

 

Place the plums on four deep plates or small bowls, cut off 2 – 3 ice lollies each and place on top, serve immediately.

  • Gewürztraminer (trocken)

with bulgur Cabbage stew

with bulgur

  • 200 Gramm Zwiebeln
  • 1 ganze Knoblauchzehe
  • 800 Gramm Spitzkohl
  • 200 Gramm Möhren
  • 400 Gramm festk. Kartoffeln
  • 1 EL Kümmelsaat
  • 1,5 Liter Gemüsefond
  • 5 EL Olivenöl
  • 2 EL Tomatenmark
  • 2 EL edelsüßes Paprikapulver
  • 3 TL Honig
  • nach Belieben Salz & Pfeffer
  • 120 Gramm grobe Bulgur
  • 1 Bund Petersilie
  • 4 Stiele Minze
  • 1 ganze Zitrone
  • 2 ganze Äpfel
  • 3 EL Obstessig

Finely dice the onions and garlic. Clean, wash and quarter the cabbage, remove the stalk and roughly chop the cabbage quarters. Peel the carrots, halve lengthways and cut into approx. 2 cm wide pieces. Peel the potatoes and cut into approx. 2.5 cm pieces. Fry the carrots in a pan without fat and set aside.

 

Heat the vegetable stock in a small pan. Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large pan, sauté the cabbage in it for 10-15 minutes over a high heat until dark brown and remove from the pan.

 

Add the remaining oil to the pan. Fry the onions and garlic until translucent. Add the potatoes and muesli and sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the tomato purée and paprika powder and fry while stirring. Add the cabbage, honey and caraway and pour in the hot vegetable stock. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. Add the bulgur 20 minutes before the end of the cooking time.

 

Quarter the apples, remove the seeds, cut into approx. 1 cm cubes and add 10 minutes before the end of the cooking time. Pluck the herbs and chop medium-fine. Wash and dry the lemon, finely grate the zest and mix with the herbs. Flavour the stew with vinegar, salt and pepper and serve sprinkled with the herbs.

 

Tip: The pointed cabbage must be roasted really strongly and dark so that the aromas come out well.

  • Spätburgunder / Pinot Noir (trocken)
  • Trollinger (trocken)

with wild mushrooms Cream of potato soup

with wild mushrooms

  • 300 Gramm geschälte Kartoffeln
  • 100 Gramm Wurzelgemüse
  • 100 Gramm Waldpilze
  • 1 ganze Zwiebel
  • 1 ganze Knoblauchzehe
  • 30 Gramm Speckwürfel
  • 40 Gramm Margarine
  • 750 ml Brühe
  • 200 ml Sahne
  • 1 Zweig Thymian
  • nach Belieben Petersilie, Butter, Salz, Pfeffer, Muskat

Clean, wash and finely dice the root vegetables. Finely dice the onion and garlic clove and finely chop the thyme. Sauté the diced bacon with the margarine in a pan until lightly browned, add the diced onion, garlic, root vegetables and thyme. Sauté, add the stock and cook for 2 minutes.


Finely grate the potatoes, add to the soup and cook for a further 5 minutes, add the cream, season and flavour. Clean, wash and chop the mushrooms and sauté in a pan with butter. Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with chopped parsley and pour over the soup when serving.

  • Riesling (trocken)
  • Riesling (halbtrocken & feinherb)