Peter Cap on Ageing Wine at Home

“Many people think that ageing wine after buying it will improve it,” says Peter Cap, “but that’s based on the premise that wine will only improve with age. Most people will have seen the old movie storyline of a precious bottle of wine, maybe hundreds of years old, being opened, only for those who taste it to discover that it has turned to vinegar. While that’s an extreme example, understanding how the best wines are made, and why they are bottled and sold by a certain date will support the conclusion that it’s simply not worth trying to age wine at home.”

“At Manor Estate, we age our wine naturally. During that time, the vintner will test the wine at regular intervals to determine when it has reached its peak. When that day arrives, it’s time to bottle the wine and sell it. It’s possible to age a wine until its past its prime, and also possible to bottle it too young, when a few more weeks, months or even years of fermentation would have benefited it. It’s the winemaker’s task to use his or her skill and experience to choose the perfect timing.”

“As a result, a good wine is at its best when you buy it, and for some time following that provided it is in a sealed bottle – one of the reasons why porous corks are largely out of fashion these days and sealed, screw-cap closures are preferred.”

“Whatever the closure used, keeping a wine to age after it has reached its peak will generally not improve it. Even if the wine is young, emulating the conditions of a winery’s wine cellar would be expensive, and monitoring the wines inside the bottles is impossible. It’s better to buy a good wine, and drink it within 12 months than to try keeping it for years in the hope that it will improve. It probably won’t.”

Keeping Wine till One is Ready to Enjoy It

With the perfect temperature and humidity, exclusion of light, and elimination of vibration being among the prerequisites for a proper wine cellar, emulating its conditions would be difficult or costly for the average homeowner. At the same time, it’s nice having a selection of one’s favourite wines on hand so that the one deemed suitable for a specific occasion can be selected.

“Choose a cool place that is not exposed to direct sunlight. A cupboard is fine, but if you want to have your wine selection on display, keep it away from windows, harsh lighting, and any appliances that give off heat,” says Peter. 

“One of the advantages of screw-top wines is that the freshness is sealed in. When you open the bottle, the wine can be just as good as it was on the day that the vintner decided that the wine had reached perfection. You can also store the wine in an upright position which is a space-saver. Wines with corks, on the other hand, should be stored lying down, allowing the wine to keep the cork moistened. If corks dry out too much, they can crack, and the wine may become oxidised, or the cork snaps in half or crumbles during the opening process.”

Finally, Peter notes that additive-free wines are more delicate than those preserved with sulfites. “Unless they were made with great care and stored under controlled conditions, additive-free wines should be consumed relatively soon after their purchase,” advises Peter. “Three months would be a cautious guideline for wines such as this.”

Wine is an Investment in Enjoyment

“Wine is made to be enjoyed in the short term, not stored in the longer term,” Peter concludes. “The notion of storing wine for decades to boost its value still exists, but most vintners would agree that storing a bottled wine that long means it isn’t really for drinking. It may be of historical interest or have sentimental value, but opening it and tasting it will likely not be the pleasure most people seem to believe it will be. Invest in enjoyment. Buy wine with the intention of drinking it.”

Manor estate offers wine events, a romantic wedding venue and luxury accommodation in McLaren Vale. For more information, or join their wine club, visit the Manor Estate Wines website or call their team of experts on (08) 8383 7300.

Syndicated by Baxton Media, The Market Influencers, Your Digital Marketing Agency.

Covid and Red Wine: The Claim 

Improved resistance to various health issues has long been attributed to red wine: “We already know that relaxing with a glass of red wine is believed to have numerous health benefits thanks to the powerful antioxidant polyphenols it contains. But tannins also have benefits, and they could be the key to keeping us healthy during the pandemic. That’s over and above the fact that many scientists believe that drinking a glass of red wine a day can improve heart health, reduce inflammation, and help people to live longer,” says Peter.

But that’s not where it ends. 

“It’s known that stress lowers resistance to illness,” Peter reminds. “Relaxing with someone you love and a bottle of fine wine isn’t just good for your mind: it’s good for your body because it reduces stress. But without getting too clinical, spoiling themselves with something they’ll genuinely enjoy is something people should do on a regular basis. It’s not only a happy thing to do, it’s also a healthy one. Manor Estate is part of that, and it’s something to be proud of.”

Covid: Why Researchers Aren’t Testing Wine’s Health Benefits

Peter points out that natural substances like wine are difficult for researchers to work with. “They need to point to a single ingredient and determine what that does. Organic substances contain many complex molecules that may interact with each other, and going through all those ingredients and determining how they work together would be the work of generations, not years.”

“On the other hand, there are scientists who believe that organic molecules can work in synergy, boosting one another’s effects. It would be wonderful to see more research on the health benefits of red wine, particularly with reference to SARS-related viruses. The researchers would certainly have no shortage of volunteers to act as research subjects!”

Tannins, Red Wine, and Covid

Backing up his opinion that red wine can help us to stay safe and healthy during the pandemic may seem like a tough call. But Peter, an organic chemist prior to finding his calling in the world of fine wines, is armed with evidence.

“During SARS, researchers in Taiwan began testing tannin to see whether it would inhibit the virus with very promising results. That research has been resumed owing to covid, and once again, the results are very promising. They’re looking at tannins as an ingredient that could be used to treat people who already have covid, and they’ve found that tannic acid does suppress the virus.”

“In treating covid, it would take a massive dose of red wine to actually get the same effect as the researchers got in the lab, but surely, even a healthy two glasses would have some effect in preventing covid or aiding people in recovery.”

“At the same time,” cautions Peter, “that’s just my opinion and there’s no conclusive proof to offer, but it is food for thought. Personally, I believe that tannins in red wine really can help us to stay healthy during the pandemic, and there are a number of additional reasons to believe it can heighten resistance, including the aspect of relaxing and de-stressing which any doctor will tell you heightens resistance to infection.”

As for the wine, it will always be Manor Estate wines for Peter: “The acronym is ME, and you and ME go well together,” says Peter. “The wine is naturally aged and lovingly nurtured to perfection, and that perfection is bottled in McLaren Vale before being enjoyed in Australia and the USA. If it’s good for your health, that’s a bonus. What matters most is that it’s a delight to the senses.”

Manor estate offers wine events, a romantic wedding venue and luxury accommodation in McLaren Vale. For more information, or join their wine club, visit the Manor Estate Wines website or call their team of experts on (08) 8383 7300.

Syndicated by Baxton Media, The Market Influencers, Your Digital Marketing Agency.

Peter’s winery, Manor Estate, produces the self-indulgent wines branded as “ME” wines, and his Shiraz is an international award winner. However, even wine fanciers who know they like a Shiraz may wonder just what earns this red wine its name. It all comes down to the grapes and where they’re grown says Peter.

Read: McLaren Vale Winery Secrets Wine Club Wines Tasting Events Australian Winemakers

A French Grape Variety Makes Itself at Home in Warmer Climes

Shiraz, explains Peter, comes from a historic French grape variety that’s known as Syrah in its birthplace. It grows well in warmer climates, expressing its flavour somewhat differently than it did back home in France. “Even in Australia, there are wines made from Syrah grapes that have the more acidic overtones and peppery aroma that the French versions do. The Yarra Valley wines are more like a Syrah than a warm-climate Shiraz. In McLaren Vale, the flavour is fruitier and if there is to be a distinction between Shiraz and Syrah wines, those would be the characteristics that differentiate them from each other.”

Shiraz: Among The Darkest of All Reds

The colour of Shiraz (or Syrah) wines is quite distinctive. Peter demonstrates the dark hue by holding a glass up to the light. The dark liquid is a deep red that’s almost black, and that’s in line, says Peter, with the berry flavours for which the wine is famed. He notes that Australians love their Shiraz wines and that Shiraz grapes are among the most widely grown in Australia. “Americans enjoy their Shiraz too,” he says, reflecting on the success Manor Estates achieved in the USA where it rapidly earned a reputation as a producer of exceptionally good wines suitable for serving to the “beautiful people” in Manhattan’s most luxurious venues.

Shiraz Flavour: Full-Bodied, Bold, and Dry

Red meats and red wine are a classic pairing, but Peter Cap says there’s more to Shiraz than just that. “Shiraz wines have a bold flavour, and they complement foods that have a bold flavour too. Aged cheese, for example, smoked meats, and the richness of duck are better when enjoyed with Shiraz wines, and the tannins help to cut through the fattiness of lamb. From the barbeque to the gourmet dinner, and from starters to desserts, there’s always room for a Shiraz in the wine selection.”

Read: Sparkling Brut Wines McLaren Vale Winery Accommodation Functions Weddings Events

More Than Just the Grapes

At Manor Estate, Peter insists on ageing wines according to time-honoured traditions. “Good quality Shiraz starts with selecting the best wine grapes, but it doesn’t end there,” he explains. “There’s no substitute for the flavour of a wine aged in oak barrels and given time to develop its flavours naturally. It’s possible to fast-track wine production, but the difference lies in the taste.”

Another component of a great Shiraz is often overlooked. Yeast is used in the fermentation of wine, but there are many variants, and according to Peter Cap, the original French strain of yeast produces superior results.

From the consumer’s perspective, the temperature of the wine will also affect the way its taste is experienced. Peter recommends refrigerating Shiraz for 15 minutes before serving. “Most people serve it too warm,” he warns, “and that means they aren’t getting the most out of their Shiraz.”

“It begins with Shiraz grapes,” says Peter, “but that’s just the start. From how the wine is made to details like the choice of glassware, the temperature it is served at, and the foods with which it is paired, a little understanding of the art of making and enjoying wine will enhance your choices and maximise your enjoyment of Shiraz wines.”

Manor estate offers wine events, a romantic wedding venue and luxury accommodation in McLaren Vale. For more information, or to buy wine online, or join their wine club, visit the Manor Estate Wines website or call their team of experts on (08) 8383 7300.

Syndicated by Baxton Media, The Market Influencers, Your Digital Marketing Agency.