Wine Storage

Wine storage is an important factor in getting the best from your wine. While many people think of small decorative wine racks as storage, those really do not offer ideal conditions. Storing wine is a complex issue with many diverse aspects; you need to consider many facets of wine storage if you are serious about collecting and drinking wine.

More wine connoisseurs are getting serious about home wine storage, realizing that ideal conditions can improve their drinks. The following tips can help you get started.

Wine matures faster at higher temperatures. Wines stored at 65 degrees Celsius age twice as fast as wines stored between 50 and 55 degrees.The optimal temperature for storing wine is between 12º and 17º Celsius. You must also guard the wine against frequent fluctuations of temperature. Wine is ideally stored in a cellar or basement of the house.

The ideal humidity level for wine storage is between 60 – 80 %. This allows the moisture to remain inside the bottle preventing evaporation. Too high levels of humidity can cause the growth of microorganisms that will mar the taste of the wine.

The third most important factor is light. Wine needs to be shielded from direct sunlight and is best stored in a dark place. Using colored bottles helps shield the wine from sunlight, but that may not be enough.Why is light bad for the wine? Too much light can react with the proteins in the wine forming a haze as well as undesirable aromas.

Air is also a big threat to wine. Every bottle of wine has some airspace inside it, which is empty of wine. Larger bottles have less air space per milliliter of wine, which makes them better for storage. Wines stored in large bottles often age better since they can have a longer lifespan.

Wine bottles should ideally be stored horizontally. Horizontal storage will keep the wine inside the bottle in contact with the cork keeping it moist, while preventing oxidation as well as the evaporation of the water inside the wine.

Store wine bottles on their sides and in such a manner that lateral movement is kept under control. Most wine racks have slats that prevent the bottles from moving around and from touching each other. Restricting movement also makes for better sedimentation which leads to enhanced aging and taste.

It is a good idea to store wine bottles with their labels facing upwards. This will also allow you to see the sedimentation on the other side clearly.

Note that your storage area should be free of drafts and frequent movement.

If you want to store your wine at home, and are not lucky enough to have a cellar with the appropriate conditions, you probably need to invest in a wine refrigerator. It will keep your bottles at the proper temperature and position.

If you have a really large collection or do not have room at home for the kind of storage you desire, consider a wine storage facility. These facilities are becoming quite popular, and the monthly fees are quite reasonable compared to the expenditure for a full cellar.

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