If you’ve visited us for one of our Friday Tours here in Alexander Valley, we’ve most likely met. I host most of those tours and wine tastings in the cave. We don’t have a tasting room or hospitality staff because as a small family business, we enjoy welcoming you all to Hafner Vineyard ourselves. Whether it's someone's first time visiting our property and Healdsburg or they've been enjoying Hafner wine for decades, there's something special about sharing this place and our wines in person. And often by the end of the visit, we are laughing and enjoying our time together.
Our tour and tastings are informational and conversational, so as you might guess, I get a lot of wine questions during these visits! Some are practical, others are just fun. So, I thought I'd round up the top 5 wine questions I hear most often, along with my answers. If you've ever wondered about any of these, you're not alone.

1. How long does wine last once it's opened?

This is probably the most common question and for good reason! Once you open a bottle, oxygen starts to interact with the wine, which changes its flavor. In general:

• White wines and Rosé last about 3 – 5 days in the fridge.
• Red wines can last 3 – 4 days at room temperature or slightly cooler, depending on how the wine is made.

I always tell patrons: if it smells good and tastes good, it's still good. Trust your senses.

One wine myth is that for every day a bottle is open on the counter, it represents one year of additional aging. That’s not a perfect solution but it can help to demonstrate how a wine might age. Learn more about how to store open wine here.

2. What temperature should I serve wine at?

Serving wine at the right temperature can enhance its flavors and aromas. Here's a general guide:

• White wines and Rosé: Serve chilled, around 50-60°F.
• Red wines: Serve slightly below room temperature, around 60–68°F.
• Sparkling wines: Serve well-chilled, around 40–45°F.

Remember, if a wine is too cold, its flavors can be muted; if it's too warm, the alcohol can dominate. Adjusting the serving temperature can make a noticeable difference in your wine experience.

Here's another great cheat sheet to serving wine.

3. Do I need to store wine on its side?

Yes, if it has a cork. Laying the bottle on its side keeps the cork moist, which prevents it from drying out and letting air in. If the wine has a screw cap or synthetic cork, it's not as important. That said, sparkling wines do not need to be stored on their side because the pressure in the bottle keeps that cork moist.

At home, the main goal is to keep wine cool, dark, and stable. Temperatures that fluctuate 10 degrees is fine; it’s the higher swings which cause wine to age faster. A wine fridge is great, but I recommend having the fridge temperature around 60°. A interior closet or cupboard away from heat and light will do just fine for short-term storage.

4. How long do your wines age?

This is a great question, and one that my husband and our winemaker, Parke, think about a lot when we're making wine. Our goal is always to make wines that age well. (Evidence of that is in the fact that we release our Cabernet in its fifth year of age.) In general, wines with good acidity, tannin, and structure tend to age the best.

Here's a quick guide to how our wines typically age:

• Cabernet Sauvignon: This is our most age-worthy wine. It really hits its stride 7–10 years after the vintage (though many of our patrons enjoy it even older, 15+ years isn't uncommon if it's stored well).
• Next Red: Our Malbec-based blend seems to age well for up to 10 years at least. Many patrons prefer to enjoy it during its youth, showcasing its bright fruit character.
• Reserve Chardonnay: We think this wine ages well for up to 5 years from its vintage date. At our home, Parke and I typically enjoy the Reserve Chardonnay a year or two after its release. This is when it starts to develop flinty, mineral notes and bottle bouquet.
• Chardonnay: We recommend enjoying this in the first 2 to 4 years after its release, when it's fresh and vibrant but has also started to develop bottle bouquet.
• Rosé: This wine is made to be enjoyed young, ideally within 1–2 years of the vintage, when their aromas and acidity are at their peak.
• Blanc de Blancs: We’ve only made two vintages, so we are still waiting to see how this ages!

That said, the most important thing is to trust your own preference. If you prefer your red wines with tannin structure and bright fruit, enjoy them when they are young. If you prefer your red wines when they soften and round with earthy, savory notes, enjoy them a bit older. Every year we do a vertical tasting of each wine and share our tasting notes online, so that patrons can see how we find a vintage before opening the bottle. Read tasting notes here.

5. What’s your favorite wine to drink?

This one is impossible to answer! It depends on the season, the meal, the mood… But I will say: Chardonnay on a warm spring evening, Rosé with a picnic lunch, or a glass of older Cabernet or Pinot Noir with a dinner. And I always love to have a glass of Sparkling before dinner. 

I enjoy hearing what our patrons think. Wine is so personal, and there's no right or wrong. That's part of the fun.

Have a wine question of your own? Come visit us or send us a note. We are always happy to talk wine, whether it's about corks, cellaring, or just what to open with dinner.