White Wine - Shelf Life

[yogi]

Can anyone tell me how long white wine can be stored before drinking? Are there any rules and is there any web site I can go to to read about this.

Help???

[Innkeeper]

Hi Yogi, and welcome to the Wine Board. Your question is a little like, how much is ice cream. There is more than one answer. Being very general: Most Italian Whites are too old when they get here, so your answer is zero; French Whites from Bordeaux, Loire, and Alsace will hang in there for five or six years after harvest; White Burgundy depends on a lot of things, but the more you pay the longer it lasts; German Rieslings last for three or four years for the dry ones to decades for the sweeter ones; American, Australian, New Zealand, and Chilian Whites have shelf life comparable to their European conterparts. Personally don't age many whites, but then again, don't drink many either.