Buying guide
Buy old wine with confidence
Old wine is one of life's quieter pleasures, but buying it well takes a little knowledge. The two things that matter most are provenance — where the bottle has been — and storage, because heat and light age a wine far faster than time alone.
Every bottle we sell comes with a clear history and has been kept under proper conditions, so you can buy an older vintage without guessing.
What to check before you buy
Look at the fill level (ullage): for older bottles a level into the neck or top shoulder is reassuring. Check that the label and capsule look consistent with the wine's age, and that the seller can tell you where the bottle came from.
A wine with documented provenance and good storage is worth more than a slightly cheaper bottle of unknown history — the difference is whether it tastes alive in the glass.
Which regions age best
Bordeaux, red and white Burgundy, Barolo and the northern Rhône are the classic cellar regions. German Riesling ages beautifully too, often for decades.
If you are buying for a specific birth year or anniversary, tell us — we can point you to vintages that are drinking well right now.
Explore the cellar
Frequently asked questions
How do I know an old wine is still good?
Provenance and storage are the best signals. A bottle with a documented history, a healthy fill level and proper cellar storage is very likely to be sound. We check all three before listing.
Should I decant old wine?
Often a gentle decant to separate the wine from any sediment helps, but very old, fragile wines can fade quickly once opened — pour and taste rather than letting them sit for hours.