The blog

Notes from the cellar

Grapes, storage, serving and the small decisions that get every bottle opened at its best.

Rows of bottles lying in a dark cellar, lit by a single warm lamp Cellaring What temperature should you store wine at? The best wine storage temperature is a steady 12-14°C (54-57°F) with 60-70% humidity. Here is why, and what to do when your home runs warmer. · 4 min read A glass of golden Chardonnay next to an oak barrel in low light Grapes Chardonnay: oaked vs unoaked, and how long it keeps Oaked Chardonnay tastes of butter, vanilla and toast. Unoaked is crisp and citrusy. Here is how to tell them apart, how long each keeps and what to eat. · 3 min read A red and a white wine glass side by side, beaded with condensation, on a dark table Serving & pairing Wine serving temperatures: a cheat sheet by style Serve light reds at 12-14°C, full reds at 16-18°C, whites at 7-13°C and sparkling at 6-10°C. A full chart by style, plus quick ways to get there. · 4 min read A half-full bottle of red wine with its cork pushed back in, on a dark counter Cellaring How long does wine last after opening? Most opened wine keeps 3-5 days in the fridge with the cork back in. Sparkling lasts 1-3 days, fortified wine weeks. A full table by style, plus tips. · 4 min read A glass of pale ruby Pinot Noir beside a bunch of dark grapes in low light Grapes Pinot Noir: why it's hard to grow and where to find value Pinot Noir is light, perfumed and notoriously fussy to grow. What it tastes like, where the best comes from, how long it ages and where to find good value. · 4 min read Bottles of different ages lying in a rack, the oldest covered in a fine layer of dust Cellaring What is a drinking window, and how is it worked out? A drinking window is the span of years when a wine tastes its best. What decides it, where the estimates come from, and how to use them in your own cellar. · 4 min read Red wine being poured from a bottle into a wide glass decanter, lit from one side Serving & pairing Should you decant wine? Which ones, and for how long Decant young, tannic reds for 1-2 hours and old wines just before serving to remove sediment. A guide to which wines need it, how long, and how to do it. · 4 min read A deep purple glass of Cabernet Sauvignon beside a dusty bottle in a dark cellar Grapes Cabernet Sauvignon: how long to age it before opening Everyday Cabernet Sauvignon is ready on release. Good Napa and Bordeaux need 8-15 years. What it tastes like, how long to wait, and what to serve with it. · 3 min read A cheese board with a wedge of blue cheese and a glass of port in warm, low light Serving & pairing Wine and cheese pairings that actually work White wine matches more cheeses than red. Classic wine and cheese pairings, from goat cheese and Sancerre to Stilton and port, plus the rules behind them. · 3 min read