Wine is as old as man’s time on the planet. Archaeologists have found wine vessels dating back thousands of years. Wine was used for celebrating, religious ceremonies and generally quenching the thirst of humanity.
Wine and beer perpetuation grew out of not only of a desire to celebrate or religious ceremonies, but also for basic health reasons. The lack of good sanitation practices made water that hadn’t been boiled a dangerous choice. The brewing of beer and consumption of Meade and wine, were ways to avoid the issues of unclean water.
In 2015, clean water is readily available, so why drink wine now? A better question, is why not? Wine today is very much a part of religious ceremonies, celebrations and every day life. It also is big business. People buy and sell wine like other commodities and the international wine trade is vibrant as any point in modern history.
As a collector, I find myself in a state of conflict. Even if you only have a few bottles that you are aging, the question that challenges all of us is, “when should I drink that bottle.” Research has shown that only 2% of the wine purchased is consumed more than 48 hours after purchase. So I guess I am talking to the 2 percenters here!
The answer is a two part analysis of your situation. The first is a practical question; is the wine ready? The aging of wine has a lot to do with the storage conditions than almost anything else. If your wine is stored with the bottle on its side in a dark, cool and moderatly humid place, the bottle will age for a long time. The other factor is the wine itself. The questions you have to ask yourself make this a bit of science and luck. Was it a good vintage? Was it a good wine, that was meant to age? There are lots of wine rating websites that offer ranges of aging for wines by specific wines in specific vintages. These are good benchmarks, especially if you only have one bottle. If you have several bottles of an age worthy wine, I would suggest, a “sample” bottle should help you get a feel for how well the wine is holding in your cellar.
The second part of the decision process is much more complex; “do I need a special occasion to drink this?” In the late 1990’s a movement started called OTBN, short for open that bottle night. It was a random Saturday in January or February that was designated as the “special” night to open “that” bottle. It also became a night to get together with other oenophiles to share that special bottle. While a clever idea, and a cause I supported on multiple occasions, it still seemed to lack the ceremony of a truly special occasion.
My philosophy was tested by a friend who had a special bottle that they held. When it was finally opened, it was in such decline, the only emotion he felt was regret. Regret for not having enjoyed that wine at the peak. I think it would be a great tragedy to have that happen and certainly far worse than drinking that “special” bottle when it’s too young.
So, if you are thinking of starting to collect wine, or if you are already a collector of any size, I offer three pieces of advice to you.
First, wine still is a celebratory beverage for many people, but don’t set your expectations too high. A family meal and a great bottle of wine is as memorable as any function. So why not a Tuesday?
Second, frequent restaurants that allow you to bring your own wine. Corkage fees are a good thing to know in advance, but it has been my general experience that most restaurants, even the good ones, serve wines that are too young to be served. Bringing a bottle to dinner with friends or family makes it a special occasion.
Lastly, create a special event. Host a party with the sole purpose of sharing a special bottle of wine with people. Don’t invite people based on your perception of what they might think of the wine, but rather invite people who are fun to be with and “that bottle” might be the spark that makes them appreciate wine the way you do. I have been the person to do that a few times and unlike the cliché scene in “Sideways,” it is truly possible to have a transformative experience from a single bottle of wine. Is there a better gift than igniting a passion in another person that you enjoy being around?
So if you wonder if the wine you have qualifies as special, or aging worthy? I can help you with that. I can also offer a menu or recipe to pair with that wine. Leave me a comment here or on Facebook and I will reply.
If you are ready to leap in with both feet, I offer you this advice, pop those corks!