Is there anyone who knows about Wine who could possibly advise me please?

[**forum-decorum**]

Over the last couple of years my OH and I have aquired several bottles of white wine, as gifts. My OH doesn't drink wine at all and although I like a little it doesn't agree with me so the bottles never get opened.

I have looked all round the bottles and there are no "use by dates" that I can see anywhere, so what I would like to know is, if they are not opened do they keep well. I was thinking that as my daughter is planning a wedding and our budget is tight then these types of things would help enormously for the reception.

Can anyone advise me please?

[023mjc]

Wine matures with age, and as long as it is completely sealed it will last for many many years. Thats why there is no "use by" date. Hope your daughter has a beautiful wedding and her friends enjoy the wine.

[suzieseaside]

I don't know a lot, except that some wines don't improve with age and are best drunk when relatively young.  Others can improve with age, if a good vintage or particular grape, and some people lay them down for years on their sides so the corks don't dry out. 

But 2 years is not a long time in wine life and any bottles you have been given should be absolutely fine. 

[bankhaunter]

It's odd this subject should come up today, in the early 60s I worked in a wine merchants and out of curiosity I looked today at the price of some the better wines I remember were in stock at the time.

Chateau d'Yquem that I could have had for £4.50 a bottle is now sold between £650 and £1200 a bottle depending on the vintage, looks like I missed the chance to make a few bob.

As has been said it does all depend on the wine, some hints here.

http://www.vinote.com/Info/WineVarieties.aspx

[cee-dee]

I think it's time to turn that wine in to water!

There's no knowing how old it was when it was given to you and may well have been passed on in the same way as you're thinking of doing.

Unless it was "high quality" when bottled, it won't be drinkable for long. If you think anything of the wedding guests, you'll provide them with something bought recently, it's not as if it's that expensive. Tesco are selling a case (6) at just over £30 and there's plenty of other offers for plonk.

[aernethril]

As the others have said - but it might help to know what the white wine is and also how it's been stored.

[margaret*e]

Or you could try opening one to see how its fared.

[aernethril]

..... then one thing led to another and before she knew it ..................

[**forum-decorum**]

Helloo everyone and thanks for your replies.

I was asked what the wines are.......all white, there is bottles of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gugio and Vino Blanco - Vino de mesa

I think I have got the names ok, as just taken off the bottles as I have seen them. I have no clue at all about wines I'm afraid (I am a scotch drinker lol)

CD you have made some fair comments, thank you. xxx

I have no idea how old these bottles are, all I know is I have had them myself for a couple of years, kept on their side in my average kitchen in a wine rack on top of the really tall fridge freezer. Given to me and OH as gifts for wedding anniversaries etc, by big wine drinkers, hoping I will drink and like I suppose. As I have said we don't drink wine.

I don't like to sound ungrateful either so I just accept them and say thank you.

Thinking of my daughters wedding I thought perhaps that some nice gifts may get used in a nice way and hopefully not go to waste.

Having said all that, perhaps some of you can recommend what would be nice for a white wine to have at the wedding reception meal and toast. I cannot afford champers and not everyone likes it anyway. Many thanks.

[malacandran]

Is it true, that if you open a bottle of wine, you can leave it for a few days, then drink it again.

This doesn't seem to happen with canned beer.  For example, if you open a can of Tennants Super, you have to drink it within about 12 hours.  If it's left longer than that, it gets a nasty taste, has any one else found that?

[wskneil]

If you open a can of Tennants Super it's already got a horrid taste!

[malacandran]

I'd have to disagree there, wsk. Tennants Super tastes better than wine, especially white wine, which is very acidic.

 And red wine gives an awful hangover in the morning, which good beer like Tennants, doesn't.

[wskneil]

Each to their own!

[suzieseaside]

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@cee-dee wrote:

There's no knowing how old it was when it was given to you and may well have been passed on in the same way as you're thinking of doing.

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How would you not know this?

I don't recall ever having a bottle of wine that didn't have the date it was bottled on the label.

What are the dates on yours forum?

[cee-dee]

What's made from that Sauvignon Blanc isn't a wine that keeps. Try googling for info.

[wskneil]

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@**forum-decorum** wrote:

Having said all that, perhaps some of you can recommend what would be nice for a white wine to have at the wedding reception meal and toast. I cannot afford champers and not everyone likes it anyway. Many thanks.

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If you want some "fizzy" look at prosecco or cava. I got a few bottles of prosecco before Christmas for £5 a bottle and it is lovely!And if it is being poured for them I will bet people will not know it's not champagne

And dont forget Aldi sells some very nice wines at very good prices. Me and MrsWSK often get a couple of bottles ,one Tempranillo , one Rose and they are around £3,50 a bottle and very nice. People do get very snobby about wines but there are a lot of very reasonably priced very nice wines available

[**forum-decorum**]

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@suzieseaside wrote:

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@cee-dee wrote:

There's no knowing how old it was when it was given to you and may well have been passed on in the same way as you're thinking of doing.

---

How would you not know this?

I don't recall ever having a bottle of wine that didn't have the date it was bottled on the label.

What are the dates on yours forum?

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Hi suzie,

Well I have just checked for dates, I don't see dates anywhere, but there are bar codes and also some code lettering and numbers. I wouldn't have a clue myself what those mean. So if they do indicate dates bottled I wouldn't be able to tell.

What I have found on one bottle though in tiny italic writing is, the words,"Stored.." "to be opened within 6 months of purchase" and "consume within 2 days of opening". I find that quite a nonsence really as how am I to know dates as it was a gift and not knowing the codes. And as CD says it could have been purchased quite a while before it was gifted to me. All I can safely say with that particular bottle is, as I have had that one a couple of years that it is not opened except for tipping down the sink. Sadly I feel I have wasted that one.

I also know now to politely inform the gifter and tactfully that we don't drink wine.

[**forum-decorum**]

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@cee-dee wrote:

What's made from that Sauvignon Blanc isn't a wine that keeps. Try googling for info.

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I will CD thank you, I think it is something I must do now if I am to know what I shall be offering our guests.

[**forum-decorum**]

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@wskneil wrote:

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@**forum-decorum** wrote:

Having said all that, perhaps some of you can recommend what would be nice for a white wine to have at the wedding reception meal and toast. I cannot afford champers and not everyone likes it anyway. Many thanks.

---

If you want some "fizzy" look at prosecco or cava. I got a few bottles of prosecco before Christmas for £5 a bottle and it is lovely!And if it is being poured for them I will bet people will not know it's not champagne

And dont forget Aldi sells some very nice wines at very good prices. Me and MrsWSK often get a couple of bottles ,one Tempranillo , one Rose and they are around £3,50 a bottle and very nice. People do get very snobby about wines but there are a lot of very reasonably priced very nice wines available

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Thank you for that, I do shop at Aldi so I will do what CD has suggested and do some googling to research what Aldi offers. At least I will know I won't be poisoning my guests.......hopefully.

[suzieseaside]

I'm betting that the drink in 6 months one is the Vino Blanco - Vino de mesa (Table Wine). That would have been a cheap one I think, probably <£4.

Most wines, even those better drunk within 18 months to 3 years should be OK for a couple of years, apart from ones like Beaujolais Nouveau which is specifically meant to be drunk straight after bottling.

Maybe instead of chucking it down the sink you could use it in cooking - I always think wine improves a stock but perhaps just taste a smidgen first to make sure it's not disgusting! 

Cava or Prosecco I also think would be nice for a wedding - it's nice to have some sparkly at such occasions.  I have had some this Xmas that tasted pretty good from Asda, and not pricey - about £4.99 I think.  Also one supermarket on TV is currently advertising Martini Prosecco at half price (£5.99 - I think it was Morrisons).  Keep an eye out for offers, and some supermarkets I think still give an extra 10% discount if you buy 6 bottles.