Wine gifts in particular are often drunk too old – if they are ever opened at all.
Image: dpa
It is a stubbornly held myth that wine gets better with age. In truth, many wines are drunk too old.
Dhat wine gets better with age is a persistent myth. In truth, many wines are drunk too old, because the program in the food retail trade, where statistically about three out of four wines are bought in this country, hardly attaches importance to storable wines that are somewhat more difficult to access when young. They sell less well than the fruity, cheerful fast-moving products, which are supposed to take the senses of consumers by storm, not only in terms of their appearance, but even more so in terms of taste.
Bottles bought in specialist shops or from winegrowers when travelling, but above all wine gifts, are often drunk too old, if they are ever opened at all. I notice this again and again when friends ask me to look at their wine inventory. It is frighteningly often kept in the kitchen and only occasionally in the basement – which of course still accelerates aging or dying.