What does Storage mean?

Storage describes how and for how long the wine matured before bottling, for example in oak barrels, stainless steel or amphora.

Also known as: Maturation, Ageing, Élevage

Storage describes how and for how long the wine matured after fermentation and before bottling. In French the stage is called élevage. The field often states the vessel, such as oak barrel, stainless steel, concrete or amphora, and the time in months.

The vessel controls how much oxygen the wine receives and which flavours it picks up. Stainless steel is airtight and neutral and keeps fresh fruit. Oak barrels let small amounts of oxygen through the wood, which softens tannins and adds texture. New barrels also give notes of vanilla, toast and spice, while older barrels mainly contribute oxygen and softness. Amphora and concrete sit somewhere in between.

During this time the wine can also rest on its lees, which are sometimes stirred, known as bâtonnage, giving more body. Some classifications require a minimum ageing time, for example Crianza and Reserva in Spain or Riserva in Italy.

This maturation takes place at the producer and is different from ageing potential, which describes how long the wine can develop in the bottle after bottling.