Few things age as well as wine does, but incorrect storage can easily spoil a good wine. Find out about the right conditions for storing your bottles of the good stuff.
Few things age as well as wine does, and a number of years in optimal storage conditions can transform an excellent wine into a phenomenal one. Conversely, incorrect storage can easily spoil a good wine – so whether you store your bottles in a basement, a walk-in closet or a storage unit, try to keep the conditions optimal.
Keep it cool and constant
This is arguably the most important factor in storing wine. When ageing wine for a year or longer, refrigeration is necessary in most parts of the world. Wine should be stored below 24° Celsius. At around 27° Celsius, the wine will begin to “cook” and spoil.
Try to keep the temperature constant to avoid premature ageing of the wine. Red wines are particularly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. If you have a varied collection of wines, it’s best to keep the temperature at 12,2° Celsius.
Protect from light
It’s best to store wine away from light, especially direct sunlight. UV rays can cause wine to develop an unpleasant odour. Even dark bottles and those with UV filters in the glass should be kept away from light.
Check humidity
Corked bottles of wine need to be stored at a high humidity to keep the cork moist. If the cork cracks, air will permeate the wine and spoil it. Try to store your wine in a space that has a humidity of about 70%. However, don’t let the humidity exceed 80% or the labels on bottles may become damp and mouldy.
Store it sideways
Store corked wine bottles on their side – if the cork stays in constant contact with the wine, it stays moist and sealed from air contamination.
Do not disturb
When possible, store your wine so that you don’t have to move the bottles. Movement can stir up sediments, making the wine gritty and unpleasant.
Protect from strong smells
Don’t store wine near anything with a strong smell. Wine “breathes”, so odours can permeate the cork and taint the wine. It’s best to store wine in a well-ventilated area so that odours don’t linger long enough to ruin the wine.
Space needs for storing wine
Figure out how much storage space you need for your wine and how much space you have to spare. Do you have a couple of bottles on hand, or are you building an extensive collection of hundreds of wines?
Consider walk-in storage if you’ve got a serious collection. The space will accommodate more bottles, and the layout will allow for easy browsing. A basement, walk-in closet, free-standing wine cellar or rented storage locker are all options for storing wine, as long as the temperature and humidity are regulated.
If you have limited space at home, consider using a self-storage unit to store your treasured collection of wines. For more information about affordable self-storage facilities near you, contact us at XtraSpace or browse our list of branches.