Statistics show that around 90% of wine is consumed within 24 hours of purchase. However, after years of receiving phone calls asking when back vintages of Voyager Estate wines should be enjoyed, we have no doubt that many of our private customers are purchasing the other 10%, making some thoughts on cellaring particularly pertinent.

To begin, here is a quick reminder of the essentials of cellaring and aging wines sealed under cork: constant temperature (between 10 and 15 degrees); no light (light can affect flavours); no vibrations; around 65 percent humidity (to keep the cork from drying out and shrinking); no overt smells; and bottles stored on an angle to keep the cork wet.

Screw caps change the equation slightly. You needn't worry about the humidity or storing your bottles on an angle. While heat spikes that can ëboil off' desired flavours should still be avoided, small temperature fluctuations are not as much of a concern.

When it comes to how long to store your wines, unfortunately there is no single, definitive answer. It is a very subjective decision. Do you enjoy Chardonnay young, fresh and zesty, or more mature with toasty, creamy notes? Do you prefer structured Shiraz full of red berries and spice or mellow with a soft mouth-feel and complex liquorice and leather characters? Only experience tasting aged wines will allow you to confidently make this decision when scanning your cellar for the next great bottle.

However, there are some general varietal guidelines that can be applied: unwooded Sauvignon Blanc and blends are usually best consumed young and fresh, within 2-3 years of bottling, although the use of screwcaps will often extend their life further. Semillon's potential to age is undeniable, particularly Hunter Valley Semillons. Chardonnay can potentially age for between 5 and 10 years, however those with high alcohol levels and low acidity aren't likely to last more than 2 years. Fortunately there are many modern examples of crisp, elegant Chardonnay built with longevity in mind. We recommend that Voyager Estate Chardonnay can be cellared for between 5 and 8 years. Cabernet Sauvignon is undeniably the king of the cellar with its firm tannin structure and concentrated fruit. Shiraz and Merlot also have great potential to age, dependent upon style, of course. The best examples of Pinot Noir can develop into complex, seductive wines, though the lesser examples are best enjoyed with their youthful, berry exuberance. In general, Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot will age for between 10 and 15 years in ideal cellaring conditions, Shiraz for around 5 to 10 years in a similar environment, and Girt by Sea Cabernet Merlot, with its higher proportion of Merlot and softer palate, will improve for 3 to 5 years in optimum cellaring conditions.

Though watching a wine journey through maturation requires patience, it is infinitely rewarding. When you find a wine that has proven cellaring potential, put at least a full case in your cellar, then after 2 years or so open a bottle every 6 months. You might enjoy keeping tasting notes each time you taste and in 8 years you will have a full history of this wine's evolution. You'll also know at which point you enjoyed it most!

Finally, when assessing your cellar, if you notice any of the following signs, we'd recommend drinking the wine as soon as possible (chances are damage has been done and it isn't going to get any better) and reassessing your cellaring conditions:

• Seepage around the capsule or, worse, running down the bottle;
• Increased ullage (air pocket) indicating that the wine is evaporating (or leaking);
• Protruding corks (either heat or excessive cold has pushed the cork out);
• Discoloured, browning wine (usually caused by light damage).

As long as you can ensure correct cellaring conditions, there are no further hard and fast rules about how your cellar should look. Whether it's five bottles or 5000 bottles in your collection, we have no doubt that there is fun to be had in tasting and experiencing aged wines.