When choosing what wines to seal into your anniversary wine box, two factors should play the biggest role in your decision. One, do you enjoy that type of wine? If you are a “bitter reds” kind of person you obviously won’t be filling your wine box with sweet whites”! Two, how will that wine age? A wine that you plan to drink in one year will need to be different from one you plan to enjoy in ten years!
Since each of your wines will be drunk potentially years apart, here is a quick guide to some of the best wine options for your wedding gift wine box based on when you plan to drink it.
For a “One Year” Anniversary
Red Wine Blends: These are wines where the winemaker gets to be creative in mixing together two wines in order to form a completely new third wine. For your one year anniversary, some good options to age would be a Red Bordeaux, Red Bourgogne, or a Super Tuscan (a wine that is made in Italy with a mix of non-native grapes).
Red Burgundy: One of the most celebrated wines in the world, this wine is a type of Pinot Noir and will hold up well with aging. While some of them are also the most expensive in the world, you can typically find good bottles in the $30 to $50 range. Less than that, and it may not age as well.
Most Corked Whites or Rosés: Most high sugar, low alcohol white wines and rosés will last one year fairly easily as long as it is corked. For the best rosé to age, try a Bandol (or any Rosé that comes from Provence).
Tip: Avoid bottles that have a twist off top, because that’s a pretty big clue that that wine is intended to be drunk immediately.
For a “Five Year” Anniversary
Riesling: If you and your partner have a sweet tooth, a good bottle of Riesling should be able to stand up to a 5 year aging process. Other sweet wines that will hold up are dessert wines like a Sauternes or Hungarian Tokaji.
Kalin: If you are looking for an American made wine, this California vintage is a good bet. Try one of their Sauvignon Blancs or Semillon for something to look forward to five years out.
Fuller Reds: If you both prefer red wine, some good options would be a Shiraz/Syrah from the Hermitage and Cote Rotie districts of the Rhone, France, or a Yarra Valley pinot noir.
Tip: Typically the higher the tannin content, the better a wine will age.
For a “10 year” Anniversary or Beyond
Less than 1% of the wines in the world are meant to be aged, so for a 10 year anniversary wine you have be more selective (and most likely spend a little bit more). Here a couple of wines that will last a minimum of 15 years if stored properly.
Eva Fricke Rheingau ‘Krone’
Sobrero Barolo
Pierre Gonon St-Joseph
Salvatore Molettieri Taurasi Aglianico
Arnot-Roberts Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Clajeux’ Chalk Hill
Tip: When talking about wine, price is another good indicator of aging potential. Skip anything under $30 as it most likely meant to be drunk immediately.
