Most of the time, wines are sold ready to be enjoyed and no need to mature, but most will improve in flavour if kept for a while before drinking if stored in the right conditions, with the exception of very light-bodied or cheap red wines.

Given the right conditions the length of time a wine should keep varies with its type and year of production.  The weather affects the acidity and tannin content of grapes and these, in turn, affect the way it keeps.  An ordinary wine from a good year may keep as long as a good wine from a poor year. As we are not all wine experts the best idea is to seek help and advice from a good wine merchant.

Some rough rules to remember are that not all wines improve with keeping. Secondly, plonk stays plonk no matter how long you keep it and keep in mind that white wines mature faster and fade faster.

The Multi award winning Kumkani Cradle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 is a wine that would be great to enjoy now but could be enjoyed up to 7 years from vintage.