Basic Wine Storage Tips
Wine Storage - Hints And Tips
Few wine lovers are lucky enough to possess perfect purpose built, cavernous,
subterranean cellars. Many of us have imperfect storage arrangements for our
wine, but it is important to understand how to protect wine from damaging
conditions so that we can make the most of the wine storage facilities
available. Wine storage conditions dont need to be perfect, but the finer the
wine and the longer you intend to store it for, the nearer to perfect they have
to be.
There is a lot of variety in the way in which different wines will
react to adverse conditions. Red wines tend to be more robust with white wines
being more delicate. There is also variation between the grape varieties, with
grapes like cabernet sauvignon being considerably more resilient than pinot
noir. The aim in this article is to give you an overview of the factors to
consider and the options available for storing your
wine.
1)Temperature
Temperature along with light is responsible for
doing the most damage to wine. The ideal wine cellar temperature is between 7-13
degrees C. At the higher end of the scale wines will mature faster. The key
though is a constant temperature. If all other factors are optimum then it can
be ok to store your wine at much higher temperatures (eg room temperature) as
long as its a constant temperature.
If you dont have a cellar in your
house then think about using north facing walls, under the stairs, a well
insulated garage or coal hole. Keep a thermometer in your storage area so you
can check for a consistent temperature.
2)Light
Natural and
artificial light will do a lot of damage to wine. If your wine storage area
isn't dark like a cellar or under stairs cupboard then this is a very easy to
overcome problem. Try and block of the area with a curtain or cover the wine
with a blanket.
3)Humidity
Relative humidity for wine storage
should be at least 55% with the ideal range being 70-75%. The role of humidity
in wine storage is slightly controversial, although lack of it is believed to
aid oxidation of the wine.
4)Movement
Wine really doesnt enjoy too
much movement. If you ever need to transport your wine or if its just been
delivered from your merchant then its important to give the wine a few days
rest. If you happen to live in a house that gets shook by heavy traffic, trains
or planes, then try and store your wine in an area that is least
affected.
5)Horizontal
There is a plethora of wine racks available
to buy. This is an important purchase as wine should always be stored on its
side. Storing wine on its side keeps it in contact with the cork thus preventing
the cork from drying out and letting air in.
Buying and renting cellar
space
The five points we have just covered are your main considerations
when choosing where to store your wine. If you have the money, it is possible to
purchase a wine storage cabinet. These temperature and humidity controlled
cabinets resemble fridges, but will give you absolute perfect storage
conditions. Another alternative would be to install a spiral cellar. Many
companies now sell and install these if you have the available space and money.
For those wine lovers that are buying the finest wines to lay down for many
years it may be worth considering renting cellar space from a reputable wine
merchant. This will be costly, but money well spent to protect your
investment.
About
the Author:
David Roberts has been a wine lover for many years and as
well as working in for a large wine merchant has also set up http://www.wineknowledgeonline.com
Read more articles by: David Roberts
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
There are various methods to storing and preserving your wine, so knowing the options available is a great way to plan for your future collection. The growing popularity of wine collecting and storage has brought about new products and innovations in wine cellars, so learning about the best ways to store your favorite bottles will continue to be an ongoing process.
