I saw Prince in concert last week and while I’m not sure if it was his out-of-control funkfest (hello, the guy is 53!) or having drinks after the show with a female friend who looks even better than she did in college, I can testify that some things do get better with age.

Wines can be a lot like that, but not always. Most mid-priced vino is drank within 48 hours of leaving the shelf so many winemakers design their juice to accommodate immediate drinking.

That doesn’t mean your local liquor store won’t have bottles you can squirrel away. Reds are best bets. Those from France’s Burgundy and Bordeaux regions, bigger-bones Spaniards, Italians from Tuscany, and California cult wines make good candidates for the cellar. 

Italy’s 2007 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico ($22.95 – $34.99) comes from a spectacular year and though it will taste great with pasta today, with its dense core of dark cherry fruit, anise and light herbal spice it will age nicely over the next ten years.

Prices reflect the range across Canada. Some products may not be available in all provinces.