jjm@hou5e.UUCP (07/14/83)
What are the physical characteristics necessary for a wine cellar? What is the proper temperature range? Does humidity make a difference? Does anyone have any recommendations for a currently available wine that looks like it will age well? We're looking for a starting selection of both French reds and German whites, and possibly some sparkling wine. Can anyone recommend a good wine merchant in the Red Bank - Middletown - Eatontown (NJ) area? Jim McParland ABI - HO hou5e!jjm :w
thomux@abnjh.UUCP (07/15/83)
The main conditions that a good wine cellar should provide are darkness and avoidance of temperature extremes and variation. Humidity is not a major factor unless it approaches the absolute extremes. Ideal cellar temperature is about 55 degrees, but more important is the avoidance of rapid temperature fluctuation. Over the course of several months the temperature could vary from, say, 45 to 75 (e. g. winter to summer) with no risk to the wine. The '78 and '79 vintages of red Bordeaux would be excellent choices for starting a cellar. The particular chateaus to buy is based mainly on how much you want to spend. Both years (more so the '79's) can be drunk now, but are at least 5 years away from their peak. The better ones will improve over an even longer period. When the '82 vintage becomes available, it is projected to be an outstanding year that will be long lived. The German wines (as with most white wines in general) can not be cellared as long, with the exception of the later pickings, e.g. Auslese, Beerenauslese, etc. The last outstanding vintage was '76. Although there are exceptions to everything, I wouldn't buy any sparkling wines that you don't plan to drink within a year. I would also recommend looking into Italian Chianti Classico, Brunello, and Barolo, as well as Spanish Rioja. These are excellent wines that will age well, and can be bought at much lower prices than most French Bordeaux and Burgundies. Good luck, Eric Thom ABI--Morristown, NJ