Opinions wanted on age times

[UBB]

with fruit wines. Generally speaking how long do you folks age your fruit wines??

 

[SBWs]

I try to age for at least a year, however I've been known to crack open a bottle and sample every few months.

 

[villeguy]

I would try it at 6 months and see how it tastes. I wouldn't keep many bottles past the 2 year mark, but that's just the way I drink

 

[Deezil]

I aim for about 18 months of bulk aging, then try to give reds another 6 months in bottles

My 19 month old Peach is good stuff
18 month old Blacbkerry-Cherry hasnt came around yet

Half a dozen other batches still bulk aging..

The best things in life, take time.. So, i wait.

 

[FTC Wines]

I too age my fruit wines at least 1 yr. Prefer to let them achieve their 2 yr. birthday, that's when they seem to be in their prime. Opening my last bottle of 2009 Peach this weekend, wish I had more to age longer to see what it would be like at 4-5 yrs. Roy

 

[ffemt128]

I have to go the other way on this one, but only because it's the way it ends up. I will bulk age my fruit wines for a minimum of 5-6 months, at that point they go into bottles for hopeful longer aging. Notice the keyword of hopeful. I generally make the fruit wines as early drinkers so that the grape wines can have time to age longer.


I have 1 1/2 case of elderberry from last year that is coming up on a year and my peach and strawberry are still in the carboy's after 8 months. Planning on bottling those soon.

 

[FTC Wines]

Doug, Be sure to save an Elderberry for year 2 & 3 yr. sampling. I think Elderberry is best between 2-3 yrs. I also seem to drink my wines too soon, it's hard to keep them past 2 yrs, they are so good. Roy

 

[Sammyk]

I too check at 6 months. Some are drinkable, some need longer aging. Even at 6 months most are pretty good though

 

[ffemt128]

Doug, Be sure to save an Elderberry for year 2 & 3 yr. sampling. I think Elderberry is best between 2-3 yrs. I also seem to drink my wines too soon, it's hard to keep them past 2 yrs, they are so good. Roy

I'm trying, can never seem to get the elderberry much beyond a year. Hoping to get enough berries this year for 15 gallons.

 

[Midwest Vintner]

The darker berry wines can age for 2-3 years or maybe more (depending on acidity) and the more citrus wines are better 6 months to 2 years tops. Elderberry, for example, with a pH of 3.4 or so and good storage, can go 4-5 years or more (never made it past 4, lol). It is how good the area you store it in stays the same temps, how much sulphite in the bottle, how low of pH and the type of fruit that will determine when it will be good. I have had blueberry at 3 years that was even better than at 2.

 

[FTC Wines]

I totally agree with Midwestvinter, My 3 yr. old blueberry was AWESOME, wish I had more. Same goes for the Elderberry 2-3 yrs. is BEST. I did a "blind taste test" with a few wine drinkers, after they tasted 3 diff. Cab's of mine they thought my 2.5 yr. Blueberry was a Cab. I did set them up however, I admit! but it was FUN. Roy

 

[tonyandkory]

put a large straw in the carboy!!! lol