TECH GUIDE
Wine drinking window
The drinking window is the period during which a wine best expresses its characteristics. It is an interval, not a single date.
Phases of evolution
- Evolving: still developing complexity.
- Ready: good balance.
- Peak: optimal phase.
- Last call: starting to lose freshness.
- Too late: beyond the window.
How the window is determined
Key parameters: wine type, region and appellation, vintage and bottle format. Structured wines from noble regions have wider windows.