Do you know why wine is normally stored in wine caves and underground cellars for up to hundreds of years?
This is to ensure that the ideal wine storage conditions are consistently met – low temperature, controlled humidity, and stable environment. This doesn’t mean that you can’t be able to store wine properly at home. By why are these wine storage conditions important?
Most of the wines that we drink every day are meant to be drunk right away, and the conditions don’t really matter. However, there are wines that you would want to keep around for a while. Those conditions are critical. Otherwise, your wine will age more quickly than it actually should.
That said, let’s have a detailed look at the ideal wine storage conditions you should meet when storing wine at home.
Heat is Wine’s Greatest Enemy
You should keep your wine at temperatures below 70° F. Otherwise it will age more quickly than is normally desired. And too much heat could get your wine “cooked”, leading to flat flavors and aromas. So what’s the ideal temperature for wine storage?
You should store your wine at temperatures between 45° F and 65° F. Does this mean that you can keep your wines in the household fridge?
While there’s nothing wrong with keeping your wines in the fridge for a couple of months, it is not a good idea for the longer term. In order to safely store perishable foods, fridge temperatures normally fall below 45° F. Moreover, the lack of moisture may end up drying out wine corks. This could allow air leak into the bottles, damaging your wine.
While there’s nothing wrong with keeping your wines in the fridge for a couple of months, it is not a good idea for the longer term. In order to safely store perishable foods, fridge temperatures normally fall below 45° F. Moreover, the lack of moisture may end up drying out wine corks. This could allow air leak into the bottles, damaging your wine.
Keep the Lights Off
Ever paused to think why vintners keep wine in colored glass bottles? This is to protect the wine from the sun’s UV rays, which can damage or prematurely age it. Does light from household bulbs pose any problems to wine?
While light from household bulbs may not degrade the wine itself, it can fade the labels over time. If you have to use lights, however, it is advisable to go for incandescent bulbs. They are somewhat safer compared to fluorescent bulbs, which emit some ultraviolet light.
Keep the Humidity in Check
Normally, household supplies should be kept in cool, dry place. These conditions don’t apply in the case of wine storage. While cool temperatures are okay, low humidity level can dry out the cork, making it lose its grip on the bottle.
Consequently, air will seep into the bottle. This can damage your wine or lead to the growth of molds. So, what’s the ideal humidity for storing wine?
You should keep the humidity between 65 and 75% RH. This ensures that the corks remain tight for a long period of time.
Constant Vibrations Will Wreck Your Wine
Many homeowners like to keep their wines on top of the fridge oblivious to the fact that this is among the worst places to keep wine.
Besides the risk of the bottles falling off when you open or close the fridge, there is also the constant vibration from the refrigerator itself. You should realize that constant vibration normally agitates the wine. It also makes it hard for sediments to settle in a red wine.
Therefore, you should keep your wine still. That’s one of the reasons stable wine racks are recommended for proper wine storage.
Final thoughts
Wine should be stored for some time before it can be assumed. This allows its flavor to mature. When it comes to wine storage, you should be aware of the factors that can affect the drink’s quality. You should provide the ideal storage conditions, which include low temperature, controlled humidity, and stable storage. Otherwise, you may end up degrading your wine.
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