When I was in my early 20s, I was given a bottle of Luciano Sandrone Le Vigne Barolo 2004. “Don’t guzzle it,” I was told. “It’s really special.”
So, I popped it in my closet (I didn’t know much about wine back then) to open when the time felt right. But, here’s the thing. The more time that passed, the more reluctant I was to drink it. No occasion, or even guest, ever felt special enough.
I held onto that bottle for over 15 years (which I know isn’t long for Barolo, but that’s not why I kept it). And eventually, because I'd continued to store it incredibly badly, I became convinced that what was once a very fine Italian wine was now probably vinegar. In all likelihood, I'd saved it for nothing.
Figuring I should open it before I wrote it off, I brought it into the Wine Companion office. It'll be a fun experiment, I thought. Worst case, a salad dressing. But somehow, and I'm still not sure how, the wine was glorious. Absolutely glorious. I'm still thinking about it.
But the biggest revelation? Discovering that instead of wishing I'd held onto it a little longer, saved it for a special meal with a special someone, or opened it literally anywhere other than my desk at work – heck, I could have even sold it! – I was just so happy to have finally opened it. The feelings that bottle conjured, from apprehension to total shock to pure and utter delight, place it firmly in my top wine moments, and it was a reminder that often it’s the bottle itself that makes the occasion special – not the other way around.
Saturday 22 February is Open That Bottle Night, a concept devised over 20 years ago by Wall Street Journal wine columnists Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher to encourage you to open and share those special bottles you’ve been saving. Whether it's a favourite variety or vintage, a bottle left over from your wedding, anything at all – this is your cue.
It's also a reminder to check your cellar for any bottles that might be nearing the end of their drinking window, such as the 35 iconic Australian wines listed below.
Remember, the world is full of wonderful wines, demanding to be drunk. What are you waiting for?
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