A Matter of Time: Drinking Wine at Its Best

It’s every wine lover’s quiet fantasy: reaching into the rack and pulling the right bottle for the moment — not just something expensive, but something ready. Softened. Opened. Speaking clearly after years of patient rest.

But aging wine has a way of feeling mysterious, even intimidating. How long is long enough? Why do some wines improve while others simply fade? Is it worth tying up money and space for years… or is that just for collectors with underground cellars and iron discipline?

This seminar is for the rest of us.

Together, we’ll explore what actually happens to wine as it ages — how structure relaxes, aromas deepen, fruit shifts from fresh to savory, and texture becomes the real storyteller. We’ll taste wines at different stages of their lifespan, learning to recognize youth, peak, and graceful maturity in the glass. You’ll see why some wines need time, why others don’t, and how to tell the difference before committing to a case.

We’ll talk practically, too: how many bottles to buy, how long to wait, and how to build a personal “bench” of cellar-worthy wines that feel exciting rather than precious. Along the way, we’ll taste affordable, age-worthy gems side by side with their more serious, long-lived big-brother counterparts — not to intimidate, but to illuminate what time can do when structure and balance are in place.

This is not about hoarding wine for a mythical future. It’s about learning how to drink better — with intention, confidence, and a little patience — so that when the moment arrives, you open the bottle without fear and say: Yes. This is why we waited.

Wines to be tasted: TBA.

All prices listed reflect regular retail. Significant discounts will be offered on all wines tasted. Due to the highly allocated nature of some selections, wines may change without notice.