Magic in the bottle

I’m not talking about Genies! I’m talking about the magical transformation that happens during prolonged cellaring of age-worthy wines. So how do you know if a wine is “age-worthy”? One element that has been found to be key is acidity, which prevents the oxidation of a variety of wine compounds.

HOW MUCH ACID IS IN WINE?

Look for the PH. Acids have an inverse relationship to PH, meaning the higher the acidity - the lower the PH. For example, water has a PH of 7, while Coke has a PH of 2.5. The best wines for cellaring will have PH levels of 3.1-3.4 for whites and 3.2-3.6 for reds. Wines from cool (Pinot Noir, Seyval Blanc) and cold-climate grapes (Frontenac, Petit Ami) as well as those harvested from immature grapes (Bordeaux, Champagne) will have lower PHs than grapes grown in warmer temperatures or those allowed longer “hang time” before harvest.

WHY SHOULD I AGE MY WINES?

While the acids in wine are busy protecting the aromas and flavors inside the bottle, they also diminish in quantity, eventually bringing the wine into perfect (peak) balance. Tannins, Acids, Sugar, Alcohol and Aromas all evolve over time - each at its own pace, so predicting peak aging times is difficult. We fi nd that Frontenac starts hitting its peak at 10 years of bottle age, and keeps getting better. How long will its peak last? We don’t know we’re still aging and tasting! What a great job.

“Bill and I enjoy buying wine by the case so we can age some of it for 10 years or more. We have a beautiful collection of the 300 series to be aged, as well as a nice collection of reserves. The other day we had a 2014 Frontenac. Unbelievable!”

Elaine Pedrow, Carlos Creek Winery Wine Club Member

HOW LONG SHOULD I AGE MY WINE?

It’s really impossible to tell. My advice is, when you and a wine you like that’s in the PH sweet spot, buy a case and open a bottle every 6-12 months taking notes each time and when it gets really good, invite a bunch of friends over and enjoy the rest. Or, save it all for yourself!

Looking for some awesome cellar candidates? Check out our 300 Series wines, reserved for the best of the best at Carlos Creek Winery. If you want to learn more about wine, watch for more details on our winery tours returning this summer!