Bottle ageing
German: Flaschenreife
Development of a drink in the sealed bottle that can change aroma, structure and appearance.
Bottle ageing describes how a drink develops after bottling. In wine, certain beers and some spirits, aromas and structure change slowly. Tannins soften, primary aromas recede and mature notes appear.
Not every drink benefits from storage; most wines and beers are meant to be consumed soon. Storage conditions are decisive, such as constant cool temperature, darkness and a tight closure.