
Wine Storage
Wine storage can serve several functions. The first function is practical - wine needs to be stored somewhere before it is consumed, and the "somewhere" should not be detrimental to the health of the wine in the bottle.
The other function has to do with the quality of the wine in the bottle. Some wine, especially complex red wine, benefits from bottle aging. Aging in the bottle helps to soften harsher elements such as tannins, while allowing other more positive flavors to fully develop. In this case, the wine storage must create an environment that is conducive to aging wine in the bottle.
As one might expect, there are a myriad of ways to store wine that range from strictly utility to decorative, with a little bit of everything in between. At its most basic, wine storage should address the following characteristics:
- Wine Storage Temperature - Wine should be stored at a relatively cool and stable temperature. While many consider 50 to 55°F (10 to 12°C) to be the optimal temperature to store wine, anywhere in a range from 40 to 65°F (5 to 18°C) is fine. One critical factor is that temperature should not be subject to rapid fluctuation. Slow fluctuations (such as might be seen in the transition from winter to summer) are fine, but rapid transitions can be detrimental to wine.
- Wine Storage Humidity - Wine should also be stored in a relatively humid environment, from 50 to 80% relative humidity. This is important to help keep the corks in good condition so that they maintain a good seal in the neck of the wine bottles and do not allow air in.
- Calm and Dark - Two other things that can be detrimental to the "health" of a bottle of wine are vibrations and light. You should choose a location that is not subject to a lot of vibration and that is dark most of the time. Vibrations disturb the sediment in red wine, and exposure to light, especially UV light, can give wine bad aromas.
- Clean and Well Ventilated - Wine should be stored in a relatively clean and well ventilated environment. We are not talking hospital clean hear, but free from debris and unpleasant aromas which could taint the wine is what you are trying to achieve.
- Stored on its Side - Wine should be stored on its side so that the wine in the bottle remains in contact with the cork. This helps to keep the cork moist and healthy so that it will maintain a good seal in the neck of the wine bottle.
In homes that have a basement of cellar, many of these characteristics can be met. In areas where basements and cellars are not prevalent, another solution must be found. Even in areas with basements and cellars, the proper humidity can often be a problem.
When looking to set up an area to store wine, there are several things that one must consider, including wine racking, whether or not to purchase a wine refrigerator, and whether or not to "bite-the-bullet" and actually build a wine cellar (which itself has racking and cooling unit considerations).
You will also need to consider your goals. If you are simply looking to store wine for consumption in the relatively immediate future, than a rack in the back of a closet or a small wine refrigerator may meet your needs just fine. For those who take advantage of wine case discounts, and who typically have more wine than can be consumed in the immediate future, wine storage will require more space. At the more extreme end of the spectrum, for an individual who collects a large amount of wine, than a larger solution such as a purpose-built wine cellar or large wine refrigerator.
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