Preface

Written by Roberto Ferghus Duncan, student of the legendary sommelier Pencast.
A beginner's guide to the world of wine.
The second volume in the series.
Guides, tips, and tricks for everything you need to know about wine.
Yes, YOU can be a wine connoisseur!

1. When to Pop the Cork

Wine has a lifespan. Unless you've purchased an extremely fine wine, it is best to consume your wine within two years of the date it was bottled.
Of course, with a very fine wine, you'll want to wait 10 years or more. This will give the bouquet time to ripen.
Letting a wine sit in your cellar indefinitely won't necessarily make the wine taste better. Learning the perfect time to open a bottle of wine is an art form in and of itself.

2. Storing Wine

Store wine on its side in a cool, damp location away from light and vibration. A wine cave or underground cellar is ideal.
The taste of wine changes drastically if you don't store it well. If you're planning to drink the wine within a few months, it's fine to store it anywhere cool and shaded, as long as it's on its side.
Seal leftover wine with a wine stopper and store it in a cooler that's set to 5 or 6 degrees Celsius. You may also re-bottle it into a clean bottle if you wish.