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+--- Thread: Wedding Wine (/thread-18993.html)
- starmari - 09-13-2000
I am planning a small wedding, and instead of party favors, I wanted to give my guests a good bottle of wine. I am asking them to hold on to the wine for 10 years, and on our anniversary, enjoy the bottle. I would like it to be a red. It doesn't matter what type, but I would like it to be an Italian. My biggest question is what type of Italian wine will age well, and will be cost effective enough to be able to buy a few cases on a budget. Thanks for your help!
- mrdutton - 09-13-2000
Starmari welcome to the wine board. There are a number of very good Italian wines that age well and others here may be a bit more explicit about that subject than I.
You idea is a wonderful idea. However, in order to properly age a wine for 10 years it needs to be stored under the proper conditions. Very little if any light, a temperature of about 51 to 55 degrees F. (that does not change within a couple of degrees over the aging period) and a humidity level of about 70 to 80 percent relative humidity.
If you select a fine Italian wine that can withstand aging for 10 years, and if all of your guests keep thier wine stored under the above conditions; then, when they open the bottle they will find they still have a fine wine or possibly even a very fine wine. However if your guests do not store the wine properly, when they open it 10 years later they will have a bottle of vinegar, not wine. That would not be a good memory of your wedding day.
Also, please bear in mind that you will not find a fine, age worthy wine for $10 to $20 a bottle, in most cases. These wines are generally designed to be drunk young, usually right after release or within a few years of their release.
You might want to consider opening some good wines at your reception - usually a mix of reds and whites is in order - and coming up with another idea for a gift for your guests.
My thoughts anyway..............
[This message has been edited by mrdutton (edited 09-13-2000).]
- Innkeeper - 09-14-2000
Don't know what your budget is but if you can afford $17.00 or so per bottle, would recommend a Rosso Di Montalcino. It comes from the same clone and terrior as its big brother Brunello Di Montalcino. Brunello will age almost endlessly, but the Rosso will go the twelve or so you need with no problem. It will be two or three years old when you buy it. You need to go to a large discounter to get it at that price. Normally it goes upwards of $20.00. If you want to shop online try: www.popswine.com .