How To Store Wine
Storing wine is
very simple … It requires a constant temperature,
humidity, darkness,
stillness and a well-ventilated and clean environment.
Temperature
The ideal temperature to store wines is between 55ºF and 58ºF
(13ºC–15ºC). However, any temperature between 40º–65ºF (5º–18ºC) will
suffice as long as it remains constant.
The degree and the
speed of the temperature change are critical. A gradual change of a
few degrees between summer and winter won't matter. The same change each
day will harm your wines by ageing them too rapidly.
The most important rule
when storing wine is to avoid large temperature changes or fluctuations.
At 55º to 58ºF the wine will age properly, enabling it to fully develop.
Higher temperatures will age wine more rapidly and cooler temperatures
will slow down the ageing process. Irreversible damage will be done if
your wine is kept at a temperature above 82ºF for even a month.
Consider keeping your
long-term wines in a professional storage facility if your cellar cannot
conform to the optimum temperature ranges.
Humidity
A dry atmosphere is the enemy of the natural cork seal. A natural cork
is compressed and forced into the bottle as a 100% natural seal. The
resilient and elastic cork wants to expand and continuously pushes out
against the glass to form a seal.
Moderate humidity is
important to keep the cork in good resilient condition and prevent it
shrinking. Note that screw capped bottles do not require humidity.
Excessive humidity will
not harm the wine but will cause the labels to go moldy. The ideal
humidity for your cellar is 70%, however anywhere between 50–80% is
acceptable.
Darkness
Light will prematurely age a bottle of wine. Clear bottles are most
susceptible to this problem, but ultraviolet light will penetrate even
dark colored glass.
Ultraviolet light will
damage wine by causing the degradation of the otherwise stable organic
compounds. Especially the tannins found in wine. These organic compounds
contribute to the aroma, flavor and structure of the wine. Without them
your wine would be flat and thin. So exposure to ultraviolet light
results in unfavorable and irreversible changes in your wine.
Extra care should be
given to sparkling wines as they are more sensitive to light than other
wines.
Calm
Constant vibration
from machinery, noise, nearby
railway lines, traffic, etc. will disturb the sediment in the wine
bottle. Vibration agitates the bottle and speeds up the chemical
reactions going on inside the bottle and not in a good way.
It would be rare that
you'd have a cellar with conditions bad enough to damage your wines. But
just keep it in mind when you see advertisements for wine storage
warehouses or vaults. Always look at where they are and what the
conditions are like. Beware of a converted warehouse next to a railway
line. If the walls shake each time a train goes past then look for
another location to store your wines. No matter how good the
temperature, security, humidity or whatever, the vibration could destroy
your wines.
Clean and odor free
Your cellar or storage area should be clean and free from any smells,
foodstuffs or other items. Strong outside smells can find their way
through the cork and contaminate your wine.
Keep the area clean. I
know this sounds obvious but mice and insects will live in just about
any rubbish. Some dust is OK. It will add to the authenticity and even
some cobwebs will add to the conversation. But you really have to draw
the line when it comes to a rodent-chewed label or cork.
Finally you should never
store any fruit, vegetables or cheeses near your wines or anything else
that is likely to ferment. Anything that has its own yeasts has no place
in your wine cellar.
This is an
excerpt from Chris Miley's best-selling e-book
"Building Your Own Wine Cellar"
