This is the question.
Fred H. asks : When purchasing wine in cases what are some rules to follow? I would assume that if you are buying cases then you must have had and enjoyed that particular wine? The exact producer, style and year? Also wine should ideally be kept at what 55 degrees with very limited or no sun light? Do you absolutely need a wine cellar or are there other ways around it?
Well Fred you kind of answered your own question in this one, but I will help you out a little. First of all, a case consists of 12 bottles of wine. This is a lot of wine and a lot of money. Even at 10 bucks a bottle, which is on the cheap side you are still looking at 120 bucks for a case. This is quite a bit of loot and you better make sure that you love that particular wine. So yes, you should enjoy drinking that wine, in that vintage from that producer. Drinking 12 bottles of the same wine day after day is also not a good idea. Do you eat the same food everyday? So why would you want to drink the same wine? The people that buy 12 packs of the same wine usually have huge cellars with hundreds of bottles, so they have the option of drinking other wines. If you are going to buy a case, get a mixed case of wine. Get 3 bottles of each wine and this way you will have a variety of wines to choose from for lunch, dinner or for just laying low. Most wine shops also give you a discount when buying 12 bottles or more, not a bad incentive.
The fun part of having a wine cellar or a decent wine fridge is that it lets you taste the wine at different points in its life. This is a great way to learn and enjoy wine, although it is a bit pricey. Tasting a wine in its infancy and then at regular intervals in the future is a great way to taste the evolution of a bottle of wine. This is perhaps the best part of having a passion for this stuff. Wine is a living breathing entity, with soul and character. Seeing these things change over time is a spectacular experience to witness.
Having a professional wine cellar is not always a necessity for storing and enjoying wine. It really depends on how deep your passion goes for wine , the types of wine that you buy and whether or not you are a collector. Most wines that you see on liquor store shelves are meant to be consumed usually within 2-3 years, with most ready for immediate consumption. These wines require no cellaring and should be popped and poured. Only a small percentage of wines can live for 15+ years. These are the wines that require a cellar because they generally are more expensive and have a good pedigree for aging capacity. Leaving wines like this on the kitchen counter for years will definitely ruin the bottle and waste your money.
Wines ideally should be kept at 50-55 degrees F and around 55-60 percent of humidity. They should also be kept out of sunlight. Usually a closet or dark basement can suit these needs. Just make sure that the temperature does not fluctuate too much. DO NOT keep wines in your fridge either! They are way too cold and at these temperatures the wine will get “numb” and seem to lose its character. Most wines will do just find in a dark place, so dont be worried that they will spoil. Also, do not let the fact that you dont have a wine cellar deter you from buying wines.
Looking at wine list can sometimes be daunting task, especially if you have not a clue about wine. There are many regions, styles, varieties and prices that are staring you in the face. Red or white? Cheap or expensive? French or Italian? These are some common questions that even I ask myself when ordering. The phenomenal thing about wine is that the only way to be more comfortable with the facts is to DRINK more. I’m not advocating getting drunk, but I am saying that the only way to get better at this thing to try different wines from around the world. Don’t stick to the same Chianti, Pinot,Cabernet and Merlot day after day. Take some risks, not too big though, consult me, and enjoy the regional typicities that wine has to offer.
