As a wine lover, you are probably guilty of buying a collection of wines that suits your preference. However, choosing and getting the wine is only one step of the process: you need to store your wine bottles properly.
What do you do with your 6 or 600 wine bottles? You wouldn’t want them to lose their nectary flavor and end up tasting like vinegar. Poor storage could negatively impact the taste of even the most exceptional wine in the world.
The idea of storing wine probably creates a mental picture of a vast cellar with aged and dusty wine bottles. Unfortunately, not every wine lover enjoys the luxury of owning an underground vault.
But do you know what beats the cellars at their own game? The wine fridges I talked about are here on this page. It meets the ideal storage conditions of wines. Although wine storage is not rocket science, there are a few key things that you must take into consideration for optimal aging.
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Standard refrigerator versus wine refrigerator
You may be thinking of storing your wine in the standard refrigerator, but it’s not a good idea. Standard fridges may keep the bottle cold, but not at the right temperature.
Regular refrigerators also don’t aid in maturing the wine as a wine cooler would. In most cases, you will end up with a wine that has a bad aroma and flavor.
Standard fridges are designed to remove moisture, which is an essential requirement for the preservation of wine.
Another thing is that standard refrigerators are designed in a way that they have vibrations from their compressors. These vibrations are not suitable for the maturation of the wine.
Tips To Store Wine Properly
There are several things to keep in mind when we talk about storing wine under optimal circumstances. This is just a short list, but if you adhere to most of them you are already on the right path to keeping your wine good for a long time.
If you like videos instead of reading I found this nice video for you that explains many of the points I discuss here. You can read more underneath the video.
Temperature
High temperature is the primary enemy of wine. At 70F, your wine will age faster than it should. Beyond 75F, the wine begins to get cooked, which results in smooth flavors.
Wine refrigerators offer ideal temperatures for their storage. Regular refrigerators provide an environment that is too cold for your wine bottle.
The suitable temperature provided by these wine chillers ensures that your wine maintains its taste and texture. It also provides an environment that has ideal humidity to prevent the cork from drying out and allowing air entrance.
Constant Temperature
You must ensure there are no temperature fluctuations. They only result in the contraction and expansion of the bottle, which will push the cork outwards. Eventually, this results in air seepage.
To avoid the paranoia of minor fluctuations, you should consider buying a wine fridge. They provide constant temperature and ensure your wine is ready to serve at all times.
If you like to dig a little deeper into the subject of wine temperatures you can read my article on how to store wine at the right temperature.
Store It Sideways
Keeping the wine sideways ensures that its cork is in continuous contact with the wine. That way, it remains moist, preventing it from shrinking and allowing air.
The wine oxidation results in the spoiling of its aroma, color, and flavor. Besides, horizontal storage is space-efficient.
Shaking
Theoretically, shaking speeds up chemical reactions. Even subtle vibrations from appliances affect the sediment of your wine, especially if stored for a long time. It prevents them from settling, which may make the wine gritty in an unpleasant way.
Wine fridges avoid this by having o or minimum vibrations. Thus, you can store your wine for years and have them mature to better taste and aroma.
Dark Environment
Sunlight is another problem for efficient wine storage. The UV rays of the sun cause premature aging that degrades your wine.
The light from the bulb is not safe either. They cause fading of the labels and may not be suitable if you are trying to store white wines.
Standard refrigerators have fluorescent bulbs that emit a small amount of UV light. Wine fridge, on the other hand, has incandescent bulbs or lately even LED bulbs which provide a safer environment for your wine storage.
My Opinion About Wine Storage
Proper storage prolongs the life and flavor of your wine. If you are intentional about the above wine storage conditions, you should consider getting yourself a wine fridge.
Besides that, you will serve and enjoy better-tasting wine, many of the modern versions are also a great way of showcasing your wine collection.
The variety in which they are available from just a few wine bottles to the larger models with a capacity of over a hundred bottles in combination with the fact that prices are getting lower makes it a great investment for any wine lover.
Eddie McVay
Eddie McVay is a passionate home brewer and an enthusiastic amateur connoisseur, He has been crafting his beers and wines for over a decade. His journey began with a simple home brewing kit and has since evolved into a deep understanding of the intricacies of brewing. With a knack for making complex brewing techniques accessible to beginners, his articles offer a blend of practical advice, DIY tips, and insights into the art of fermentation. Read more about Eddie Mcvay here.