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Wine is a drink that needs to be stored carefully to ensure it remains at its best. Luckily, there are a few simple wine cellar storage do’s and don’ts that can help you maintain your wine collection for years to come. So, what is the correct way to store wine?
Wine Cellar Storage
If you are looking at how to store wine at home, then you’ve come to the right place. For wine lovers, having a collection of wine bottles is a source of pride and joy.
However, to keep your wine in the best possible condition, it is essential to store it correctly.
Store Wine at an Ideal Temperature
The first do is to make sure your wine stays at an ideal temperature. This helps eliminate most of the issues that could occur if the wine is kept in a warm environment, such as sulfur, volatile acidity, yeast, and cork taint.
It is vital to keep your wine storage at an ideal temperature in order to maintain its quality and flavour. Unsuitably warm or cold temperatures can cause molecules to break down, alter chemical interactions, and destroy the wine’s taste and aroma.
Red Wine
Red wines should be stored in cooler storage, at around 45-65 degrees Fahrenheit. This is especially important for those who wish to preserve their bottles for long periods of time.
White Wine
White wines are typically kept slightly warmer than reds, but they still need to be stored in a cool and dry area. This is because the lighter flavours found in a white wine need to be preserved and maintained, but they do not need to be overly chilled.
Rose Wine
Roses straddle the line between the darker red and lighter white wine temperatures, with the optimum storage temperature usually falling somewhere between 55-12 degrees for dark roses and 50-ten degrees for lighter ones.
Humidity is another key element to consider in the process of storing your wine, as it can help the cork stay moist and prevent mould from growing. However, it can also lead to bottle labels peeling off if too much water is present in the air.
If your wine cellar storage doesn’t provide constant temperature all year round, you have to invest in temperature and humidity control units. They will provide the best environment for the wines, as they can be controlled and regulated.
Protect Against Vibrations and Other External Factors
Vibrations can have an adverse effect on your wine. They can agitate the molecules in the bottle, altering organic acids and tannins and dulling its flavour.
Place your wine storage in an area that is free from vibrations such as a basement or a closet with no direct footfall. Then, avoid storing them in stacks and instead, find a way to keep them individually stored away from each other.
Avoid direct sunlight as this can damage the glass on your wine bottles. White wines in clear bottles are especially susceptible to this type of light because the glass doesn’t offer the same protection as darker wines.
Keep your wine collection in an environment that is free of odours such as food and chemicals. This will help ensure the longevity of your wines and keep them tasting their best.
Utilize Proper Wine Storage Containers
If you want to keep your wine in pristine condition, then it’s crucial that you utilize proper wine storage containers. This will help prevent your wine from deteriorating too quickly or even killing it altogether.
Temperature is a key factor in conserving wine, so it’s best to store your bottles in a dark area with an ambient temperature that doesn’t fluctuate too much. Wine storage containers can be placed in a basement or a closet in your home.
Maintaining an optimal temperature is also important for preventing your wine from premature ageing. If a bottle is exposed to heat for long periods of time, it can be damaged and may even ripen before you’re ready to consume it.
Light can cause your wine to oxidize faster, so it’s best to avoid direct sunlight and electric fluorescent lighting in your storage space. These types of lights can also affect the colour and flavour of your wine.
Don’t Put Wine on Top of Appliances or In Direct Sunlight
Wine bottles should be stored in dark areas, away from sunlight and other sources of light. Exposure to light can wreak havoc on a bottle’s flavour and ageing potential. It also speeds up the process of oxidation, which is an essential step in the ageing process.
One of the worst places to store a bottle of wine is on top of a refrigerator or other appliance. This is because the top of your fridge gives off a lot of heat and can get your wine closer to light fixtures, which can ruin the wine’s quality and age quickly.
Another place to avoid your wine storage is in direct sunlight, especially in summer. This is because the sun’s UV rays can wreak havoc on the wine’s natural riboflavin and pantothenic acid.
This will prematurely age the wine and give it a nasty, off-taste. It will also cause the cork to dry out, which can lead to cracking and breakage. In addition to this, exposing your wine to sunlight can change its flavour and aroma.
Resist Opening and Closing the Door Too Often
This is due to the fact that constant temperature fluctuations will erode the seal on the cork and expose the wine to oxygen, which can cause oxidation and premature ageing of the bottle.
This is particularly true if you store your wine in an upright position. This is because this will prevent the cork from drying out and can actually help keep the cork from losing its elasticity.
Don’t Neglect Regular Cleaning and Maintenance
As the old saying goes: “If you want it to last, don’t neglect it.”
One area that should not be neglected when storing wine is the regular cleaning and maintenance of your cellar. This should be done at least once per year to keep your wine safe and prevent any unnecessary damage from happening.
Dusting your wine storage, racks and bottles regularly is an excellent way to avoid this problem from forming. This is something that can be accomplished by removing each bottle from the rack and lightly wiping down it and the wooden surface that holds the bottle.
Proper wine storage and maintenance are essential to ensure that it retains its flavour, aroma, and quality. By understanding the dos and don’ts of wine cellar storage, you can ensure that your collection will remain in great condition for years to come.
With proper care, your wine will reward you with countless enjoyable drinking experiences.
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