How to store wine is an important consideration whether you favour red, white or sparkling. Storing it correctly is essential. If you have the notion that simply letting your bottle sit on a shelf, or storing in on a rack for an extended period of time is acceptable, read on. Doing so could have a drastic affect on the flavour or bouquet of your wine.
It’s true that wines are perishable; however, properly storing it can actually improve the wine over time. This aging process – done properly – can add to the aroma, flavour, texture and complexity of the wine.
So, what are the correct steps? First of all, you need to determine how long you plan to store the wine for. Not all wines can last for a long period of storage, so keep you less expensive wines for no longer than three to six months. On the other hand, more expensive, quality wines, can be stored for years, even decades.
Regardless of the length of time you plan to store your wine, there are some conditions that need to be met. The first, and the most crucial, is that the bottle must be stored horizontally, never in an upright position. The reason for this is so that the cork never gets a chance to dry out. The wine that rests against it will keep the cork moist.
Another condition to be aware of is the stability of the environment in which you store your wine. Any kind of vibration or movement will have an adverse impact on your wine, so storing it on top of appliances, or on the side of the house that shakes when a train goes by is not a good idea. Keep the wine still.
The room temperature at which you store your wine is also an important factor. The ideal storage temperature is 12 degrees C (55 degrees F). Bottles should be stored away from any drafts and temperature changes should be gradual.
Light can also have a negative impact on your wine, which is why most wine bottles are made of coloured glass. Keep your wine out of direct sunlight, as too much light can react with the protein in the wine, polluting it’s’ flavour by forming a haze and a bad aroma.
If you are thinking of long term storage for you wines, you need to go high tech as the correct atmospheric conditions are required. A high humidity of approximately 70% or so must be maintained. This reduces the chances of the cork drying despite the bottle being horizontal and also reduces the chances of your wine evaporating. Another interesting fact, but often overlooked, is what else we store beside our wine. Any food or liquid that has a strong odour – think vinegar – that could be released into the air, may be absorbed by the cork, and then impact your wine!
So, the time has come to open your wine and enjoy it. What if you don’t finish the bottle in one sitting? Can you store it a little longer once it’s been opened? Yes, but no more than a few days. Once your wine has been exposed to the air and mixes with oxygen, it begins to oxidize, and this process alters the essence of your wine.
Drink up, but drink responsibly!
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