To store wine as well as possible

by S. C.

Keeping your wine in the best storage conditions helps to preserve its quality and reach its full potential. Most of us think of wine storage as something only those with cellars full of wine need worry about, but this is not the case. Every bottle of wine will taste better if stored properly and there’s more to wine storage than simply keeping it away from heat and light.

You’ve chosen your wine carefully and just received your wine delivery; now you want to make sure you get the best out of each bottle, whether you plan to drink it in days, weeks, months or even years in the cases of some fine wines.

Most importantly, your wine should be protected from heat, light and vibration. Protecting wine from these three factors will not only make sure it tastes just as the vineyard intended, but also that you can keep the wine for as long as possible without any detriment to the quality once it is opened (this will depend on the quality and type of the wine). Keep your wine well away from direct sunlight, if possible in the dark, and in a constant temperature, never over 75 degrees F (24° centigrade). This is because at 75°F wine begins to oxidize.

If you have purchased mixed cases of wine then they will contain a number of varieties of wine. Varied wine is best kept at around 54°F, although the most important thing is to keep the temperature fairly low and consistent. Don’t allow humidity to exceed 70% as this can prevent mould and damage to labels and keep the wine away from strong odours as they could permeate the cork and affect the taste of the wine. Once stored, keep the wine as still as possible and away from any vibration.

When it comes to where to store your wine, there are a number of good storage options. Of course a wine cellar is perfect as it is designed for the very purpose of protecting the wine, away from light and fluctuations in temperature and humidity, however most of us don’t live in properties equipped with wine cellars. However, there are now lots of wine storage options on the market that can store and protect your wine, whether just a couple of bottles or a whole cellar’s worth. There are wine fridges, coolers, racks, cabinets, walk-in wine cellars and rooms – even wine cellar conditioners which can create ideal wine cellar conditions in any space.

Choose the right wine storage for your needs, follow these basic rules and you will get the most from your wine, enjoying it well into the future.