Interest in wine is ever-growing, as both a gustative pleasure and as an investment with low risk and potential high returns. But, of course, none of this counts, unless it is properly stored in the right conditions.
Experts agree that the ideal temperature for a wine cellar is between 55°-59°F, with a bit of humidity thrown in for good measure (between 50-80%) to keep the corks from cracking. Remember: too much heat is the enemy of safe wine storage.
Read on for the best advice on storing your precious wine whatever your intention, and on getting the best out of one of the most enjoyable products to collect, invest in and learn about.
How to store?
So, how should one store those precious bottles of fermented grape juice when you’ve decided to keep them around a little longer, whether for when a special occasion pops up, or for future earnings?
Whether an enthusiastic beginner or seasoned expert, your wine collection shouldn’t be too much of a worry to squirrel away safely, as long as you follow a few simple rules.
Number one: do NOT stock bottles in the family fridge.
A refrigerator is not the right place for your vino, as the temperature will be far too cold and the constant vibration of the household fridge condenser may very well damage your beloved vintages.
Keep in mind that wine is easy to keep in optimal condition as long as you follow the 3 cardinal rules: Cool, dark and still.
Most wines are designed to be imbibed within a few years of purchase, however more prestigious labels need to be matured to achieve their full gustative potential. It’s up to you to decide when to drink.
- Store in a room with a constant temperature (and humidity if applicable). Too much heat is the number one danger to storing wine. Most experts agree that the ideal temperature to store wine is around 55°- 59° Fahrenheit (12°-15° Celsius).
- Don’t get paranoid if the room temperature fluctuates a few degrees more or less, this won’t harm your bottles. Also, humidity keeps your corks from drying out (at least 50% humidity is ideal) – good to keep in mind for older vintages.
- Keep wine in a dark place. Although household lighting is not a great danger to wine (beware – fluorescent lights may possibly fade delicate old labels), ultraviolet rays from direct sunlight can prematurely age and damage delicate wine.
- Store bottles lying on their sides (horizontally), and avoid moving them or manipulating them too much. It goes without saying that shaking fragile wine bottles could not only disperse sediment making future tasting disagreeable, but also put into motion certain chemical processes that could damage your wine forever.
Where to store?
Although the ideal storage place for your bottle collection would be a specially made custom wine cellar or an expensive climate-controlled wine fridge, you don’t need to spend a fortune to keep your collection safe and sound.
Most basement rooms are ideal for storing wine bottles, as are unused cupboards. A wide range of specialty racks are also available on the market, conceived not only to keep your bottles safe and vibration-free but also to act as display cases, allowing you both a design-conscious collection and bragging rights to your friends when they come over.
Some smaller racks can fit onto table top areas or even into tighter spaces, such as kitchen cabinets.
Wine coolers also come in different shapes and sizes, and for those serious about investing in wine, it would be wise to consider purchasing one.
These chilly safehouses, while not inexpensive, (quality fridges may run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars) will give you peace of mind, while perfectly protecting your collection.
Some are so advanced that they can keep different vintages and styles of wines at different temperatures at the same time (ie, chilling rosés and whites while keeping reds at a more ambient temperature).
Protecting your investment and becoming the neighborhood wine guru
If you follow the above guidelines, you can ensure a happy and healthy future for your wine portfolio.
One word of advice from the experts (if you have the financial wherewithal) : always buy as much as you can afford to stock (or more).
If you run out of space, the worst case scenario is that you might have to drink a bottle or two just to even things out, always an enjoyable excuse!