Knowing how much can last a wine in optimal conditions for consumption is an important issue to consider for any oenophile and especially for those who have a small winery.

The issue is complex, since wine can evolve for better or worse over time depending on the conditions under which has been preserved, the process of development and many other factors.

Since the wine is bottled and until it is ready to be enjoyed can improve during some time. The optimum time of consumption is when it has reached its maturity or maximum balance. From that moment begins to deteriorate, it loses strength and can reach to turn sour.

CONSERVATION ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF WINE

Although each wine has its own life cycle, it is possible to make some general approaches on the maximum duration of a bottle from the moment that we keep in our warehouse, taking into account that is kept in the right conditions.

Overall, the quality of sparkling wine, white wine young, the young red wine and rose wine are kept in good condition 1 to 3 years maximum. When white wine is aged in wood can last up to five years.

The longer you have been the wine barrel, the greater its lifecycle. Thus, aging red wine has a somewhat longer life, which can be up to 6 years; reserve red wine stored until 8 years and a large reserve can last 10 or more years, depending on their characteristics.

However, as the preservation of wine is not an exact science the only way to know if a bottle is at its optimum consumption time it is uncork it and test it.

From the moment we tasted the wine and uncork the question of how much wine can be kept after opening arises us.

From the time a bottle is opened a process of oxidation begins to occur. The oxygen in small doses helps the wine age but the more time passes in contact with air worse evolves. Furthermore, many of the components volatilize wine.

The main recommendation is to use a vacuum pump to remove air from the bottle and keep it tightly covered in the fridge , always upright. The cold makes the process of oxidation is slower.

In general, white wine, rose wine and red wine aged lasts about 3 days. The young red wine lasts up to a week because oxidizes more slowly to contain more tannin.

Finally, a sparkling wine must not keep more than a day or half a day, always with a special cap to this type of wine.

Now you know the times of wine conservation?

Perhaps thinking accompany a portion of chocolate with wine is something we may seem inappropriate in principle, but the nuances and complexity of flavors of both makes them become a great pairing if we succeed to combine the perfect pair for every occasion .

There is no exact formula to combine both, but you need some basic guidelines to know for enjoy a unique experience for the palate.

As a general rule, the wine must be at least as sweet as chocolate with accompanying him. Otherwise, the taste of wine would be too bitter or acid.

White Chocolate + Wine Moscato or Chardonnay fruity

The peculiarity of white chocolate contains no cocoa solids. Its composition cocoa butter gives a sweeter taste and buttery texture to look soft and delicate to combine wine. The Moscato wine and fruity Chardonnay wine is some varieties that combine perfectly with white chocolate. The wine accentuates the texture of the chocolate while it highlights the fruity tones of wine.

The contrasts are also suitable even riskier. It’s all about experimentation to find the right combination.

Black Chocolate + Cabernet Sauvignon

The darker the chocolate is, better combined with robust and earthy wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruity flavours and tannin balance the bitter chocolate flavour.

If we speak of a black chocolate containing cocoa not very high (between 50% and 65%) are suitable wines from varieties like Merlot, vintage port or Chianti.

The most bitter (from 70% cocoa) chocolate have a very intense flavour that requires a wine flavour and texture pairing, like a Bordeaux wine.

Milk chocolate + Pinot

At the halfway point between white and black chocolate is milk chocolate, which is creamy and sweet in more balanced proportions.

To taste these chocolates we can opt for the scent of cherries and blackberries from Pinot Noir or a white wine with fruity and floral aroma.

For more classical tastes combination with Oporto be a safe bet, while the more adventurous can accompany with a sparkling wine.

In our online wine store, you can find an extensive wine cellar with wines that blend perfectly with the chocolate. Just browse our sections and buy online wine to enjoy at home.

How do you combine the chocolate?