A guide to choosing a wine for a special occasion.

We know all too well how difficult it can be to choose an exceptional wine to celebrate a special event. This is because many expensive wines are “not all that” and quite frankly, not worthy of the price tag. When a wine becomes highly acclaimed and popular, sometimes producers become complacent and coast along on reputation alone. It’s a good thing you have our curators at Underground Cellar to lean on.

We’ve seen throughout the years how a stellar review can affect the price of a wine looking to establish a reputation. For example, a single bottle priced at $50 can rise to $100 overnight when an acclaimed publication publishes a rave review. The power of the pen must never be underestimated.

We’ve seen that at weddings and parties, most people like to break open the Champagne. Many Champagnes are bottled for drinking young. Young Champagne tends to be tart and citric. The bubbles are fiercer than in aged Champagnes, and these young Champagnes go well with the festivities.

When mature champagne and sparkling wines have been aged for a decade, the bubbles become gentler and delicate. Some varieties will begin to produce rich, nutty flavors on the palate for an unforgettable experience.

However, if a wine is truly age-worthy, it will develop specific characteristics over time. The fruitiness becomes less bright for red wines as they mellow; tastes become deeper, darker, and richer. Tannins become softer and smooth.

The four traits we wine geeks look for in an age-worthy wine are high acidity, tannin structure, low alcohol level and residual sugar.

Many aged wines are highly recommended for drinking a toast, such as the classics, French Bordeaux, and Italian Barolo. These are known to become more distinctive when they have been aged for a decade or longer. Barolo's complex tannins become smooth during aging as well.

For couples nearing their wedding day, what we recommend is a wine worth aging, a bottle that can be set aside for an anniversary. Wines not yet aged are cheaper to buy and are a good investment for the future. Smith Haut Lafitte and Montevetrano are two such wines.

It is important to remember that there are many Californian Cabernets that are also notably age-worthy. Some of our favorites are: Shafer, Harlan, Silver Oak, Chateau Montelena and Opus One.

Discover the world’s most extraordinary collection of curated wines Underground Cellar is a leading wine e-commerce company that is changing the way wine is bought and sold in the $70B consumer US wine market through ‘gamification’. We provide a unique and exciting experience that gives wine buyers a great value by using upgrades instead of discounts. For more on Underground Cellar, visit its official website.

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