How Wines Are Kept Before Purchase

[Thomas]

Here's one for you: A recent shipment of wine from France to is-wine was stopped by Customs for a random security check. Customs kept the container for about a week--in the dead of our NY winter, during a period of deep cold.

When we got the wine, we were about ready to apply for the insurance we had taken out on the shipment. (By the way, Customs billed us $500 for their random inspection and potential ruin of our wine--FREEDOM!)

Anyway, we decided to let the wine rest, come to drinking temperature, and then taste them. Except for tartrate precipitation, which happens when wine is exposed to chilling cold for long periods, every wine was in fine shape.

In the shop, we are at 65 to 68 degrees. But keep in mind, wines in the shop do not stay for very long. And those green bottles are also a shield--to some extent--against ultra-violet light. In addition, is-wine carries few wines at exorbitant prices; we serve wine consumers, not wine collectors.



[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 12-14-2002).]