So, you love
wine, you've bought a few of your favorite bottles and you store
them in a wine rack on your counter or on top of your refridgerator.
Then one day your friend brings you a bottle and you get another
bottle for a gift and you begin to run out of room on your counter.
Then you begin thinking...where is the best place to store my wine.
Most wine lovers have seen the day that requires graduating from
a couple bottles in a rack to coming up with some sort of system
to sort, store, and keep wine accessible. The following are some
tips for keeping your wine healthy and tasting good long-term.
Wine is best
stored under cool, dark, airy conditions, free from vibration, odours
and dampness. A cellar need not be under the house. The single most
important factor is temperature stability. Wines stored where the
temperature varies gradually with the seasons are better off than
wines stored in a room which is heated during the day and then allowed
to cool to winter temperatures at night.
The ideal cellar
temperature is 12-15oC(53-59F) with a relative humidity of 65-75%.
It is worthwhile using a thermometer to monitor summer temperatures.
It may be a cause for concern if the cellar temperature goes much
over 18oC(64F), as warm conditions will accelerate the development
of your wines, possibly reducing the pleasure to be had from them.
Store wine
on its side, ideally with the neck sloping slightly upwards so that
the cork remains wet, the bubble of air is in the shoulder and any
sediment will collect at the bottom of the bottle. This will make
the wine easier to decant. Place the bottle with the label facing
up or use written neck tags so you do not disturb a wine to identify
it. Align the bottles so that the corks are visible - this will
allow easy inspection for problems such as leakage.
Depending on
the size of your cellar and your budget, your wines can be stored
in either racks or boxes. There are various racking and storage
systems available ranging from metal individual bottle storage racks
through to custom-built wooden systems. Cardboard cartons in which
wines are packed provide efficient insulation and also protect the
wine from light. Another alternative, albeit an expensive one, is
specially designed styrene boxes, which provide excellent insulation
and double as wine racks.
Air conditioning
and refrigeration may effectively reduce temperatures but will also
reduce humidity causing cork shrinkage. Buckets filled with water
and regularly topped up will usually solve this problem. Alternatively,
several companies now offer cellaring cabinets of varying sizes,
that are, effectively, modified refrigerators with humidity control
and these same companies can also supply humidity control units
for rooms.
It is important
to note that your wines will mature more quickly if your cellaring
conditions are not ideal. If you are like me, you have more everyday
style wine in your cellar than anything. These wines are better
to drink quickly rather than store for years and years. However,
proper storage conditions will keep your wine from spoiling too
quick and you may be surprised with the excellent aging results
you achieve with some higher end or more complex styles such as
Bordeaux or Pinot Noir/Burgundy. Try asking your local wine merchant
to suggest some wines for you that age well and have fun starting
a collection of age worthy wine to go with your everyday wine.
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