Is It Better to Age Wine or Cheese in Stardew Valley? A Comprehensive Guide
The question of whether to age wine or cheese in Stardew Valley is a common one for players looking to maximize their profits. The short answer, for most situations, is that aging cheese is generally better than aging wine, with a few specific exceptions. While Iridium-quality wine can fetch a high price, the significantly shorter aging time of cheese often makes it the more efficient option for consistent, high-value income. Let’s dive into the details and explore why.
The Case for Aging Cheese
Speed and Efficiency
One of the most significant advantages of aging cheese is its speed. Cheese takes only 7 days to upgrade from gold quality to iridium quality in a cask. This relatively short timeframe means you can consistently rotate batches, generating a steady stream of valuable aged cheese. The article you provided correctly points out that, at 644g for iridium cheese and 7 days to reach that quality, this amounts to a profit of 92g per day.
Consistent High Value
While the top-tier wines (specifically Starfruit and Ancient Fruit) offer higher individual sale prices, the overall profitability of cheese is very competitive, especially when factoring in the time it takes to age them. The consistent income stream from aged cheese can lead to reliable wealth accumulation. This is especially true if you are not focused on having a full Ancient Fruit greenhouse.
Less Dependence on High-Value Crops
You don’t need to dedicate vast sections of your farm to expensive, late-game crops like Starfruit or Ancient Fruit to achieve high profitability with cheese. Regular milk from cows or goats can be turned into cheese and then aged effectively, making it a more accessible and versatile option.
The Exceptions: When Wine Still Reigns
Starfruit and Ancient Fruit Wine
The article is absolutely correct that the main exception to the rule of cheese supremacy is Starfruit wine and Ancient Fruit wine. These two wines, when aged to Iridium quality, have a much higher sale price than most other wines. Their base value is significantly higher, and when doubled through Iridium quality, they offer a substantial profit.
Long-Term, Large-Scale Operations
If you’re playing a long-term game and have a fully optimized setup with a Greenhouse dedicated to Ancient Fruit (minus the space for Iridium Sprinklers) you can amass a huge amount of profit over time from wine. With a full cellar of casks, aging large quantities of Iridium Ancient Fruit Wine can be extremely lucrative, but you do need to keep the time investment to age these in mind.
The “Prestige” Factor
For some players, the sheer value of Iridium Starfruit or Ancient Fruit Wine is inherently satisfying. While cheese offers faster returns, the huge payoff of these top-tier wines is still appealing to those focused on maximum value.
A Closer Look at Casks
Cask Capacity
You’re limited by your cellar size in the number of casks you can use. The article indicates that the maximum number of casks is 118 on Switch, 125 on PC, and 189 at maximum which can be a significant factor in your profit calculation.
Aging Time
The aging process is crucial. Wine takes a staggering 56 days (approximately two seasons) to reach Iridium quality, while cheese takes only 7. This is a huge factor to consider, particularly in the early to mid-game. The time spent aging wine might not justify the profit gain over rapidly produced and aged cheese. Wine takes 14 days to reach Silver, and 28 to reach Gold.
Practical Implications
Early to Mid-Game
In the early to mid-game, you’re likely better off focusing on aging cheese. The quick turnover time allows for a steady income, helping you grow your farm and upgrade your equipment more quickly. Don’t forget that gold star cheese is worth 300g without Artisan and 420g with Artisan. The milk is better sold straight if you chose Rancher as your Farming skill, so it is important to note that choosing Artisan will benefit the cheese process more.
Late-Game
Once you have established a stable income, the game slows down and you can plan out long term aging projects. If you are focused on optimal profits, the Ancient Fruit or Starfruit wine strategy is still a viable, if slower option. Even with these two wines, remember that while their profit per bottle is much higher than cheese, their profit per day is reduced because of their lengthy aging time.
Balancing Farming and Processing
It is not an either/or choice, either. You can and should be processing both cheese and wine, provided you have the right tools for it. Focus on cheese, but use any extra wine to age in a cellar to increase profit.
Conclusion
In short, cheese offers a more efficient way to generate steady, high-value income, especially in the early to mid-game. Starfruit and Ancient Fruit wine are the only exceptions that may be worth the investment of time to age, especially in the late game when you have a full Ancient Fruit greenhouse. However, for most players, the ease and speed of cheese aging make it the more practical and profitable choice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How long does it take for cheese to reach Iridium quality in a cask?
It takes 7 days for cheese to reach Iridium quality.
2. How long does it take for wine to reach Iridium quality in a cask?
It takes 56 days (approximately two seasons) for wine to reach Iridium quality.
3. Which is more profitable overall: aging cheese or wine?
For most of the game, and with most products, aging cheese is more profitable due to its faster turnover. However, in the late game, Starfruit and Ancient Fruit wines aged to Iridium quality are extremely profitable.
4. What is the best wine to age in casks?
Starfruit wine and Ancient Fruit wine are the best wines to age in casks due to their high base sale prices.
5. How many casks can you fit in the cellar?
You can fit 118 casks on Switch, 125 casks on PC, and 189 casks at maximum.
6. Is it worth it to age all types of wine?
No, it is generally not worth aging low value wines. Focus on Starfruit and Ancient Fruit wines for maximum profit.
7. Is it better to sell milk or turn it into cheese?
If you chose Rancher as your farming skill, it is better to sell milk outright. If you chose Artisan, it is best to process it into cheese.
8. What is the daily profit of an Iridium cheese?
An Iridium cheese is worth 644g. With the aging time of 7 days, this means a profit of about 92g per day.
9. What is the base selling price of a gold star cheese?
The base price of gold star cheese is 300g without Artisan, and 420g with Artisan.
10. What is the base selling price of Iridium quality cheese?
The base price of Iridium quality cheese is 644g.
11. How long does it take for wine to be made in a keg?
It takes 7 days for a fruit to become wine in a keg.
12. How many days do you need to get Silver wine?
It takes 14 days to age wine to Silver quality.
13. How many days do you need to get Gold wine?
It takes 28 days to age wine to Gold quality.
14. Should you also age Pale Ale?
Pale Ale is profitable but does not age as quickly as cheese, or as profitably as the highest tier wines. You would be better off focusing on other products.
15. Is the cellar worth building for casks?
Absolutely! The cellar is extremely valuable for aging both cheese and wine, and can be a key component to earning high amounts of gold.