Allowing wine to lie undisturbed in the bottle for a period of weeks, months or years. This allows the tannins in the wine to soften and the wine's components to further harmonize after barrel aging.

Allowing the sparkling wine to acquire complexity, depth and fine texture in the bottle. Also known as aging "on the yeast," "sur latte," or "en tirage."

The aging that takes place in the bottle at the winery or after a wine has been purchased. Some wines benefit from and even require extended aging, while others may be at or near their peak shortly after bottling.