8 Tips for Storing Wine (Guest Post)

One of my favorite activities to do when I travel is to go wine tasting. I almost always find a variety that suits my palate, and that often leads to buying a bottle or two…or three!

Bottles of wine make great travel souvenirs!

Whether you purchase a couple of bottles of sweet white wine for yourself or a dry red to bring back to a lucky friend, it’s important to properly store your wine once you return home.

While I enjoy drinking wine, I’m no sommelier! So I turned to the wine experts at Stags Leap Winery to bring you these 8 tips for storing wine.

Guest Post by Bill Marcia with Stags Leap Winery

One of the best things about wine is creating a collection of wines that suits your personal preferences and tastes. However, choosing and purchasing high-quality wines are just part of the entire process. Keep in mind that wines need to be stored correctly and safely.

When wines are preserved properly, they can last for years and even decades, growing in quality and value. However, poor storage can spoil even the best wines.

Here are some simple tips that you can try to help you store your wines for years without affecting the taste and quality.

1. Protect your wine from vibration and light

Keep your wines in dark places as often as possible. Ultraviolet rays from direct light may damage the aroma and flavor of the wine.

Keep your wines away from any source of vibration like dryers, washers, stereo systems, exercise areas, etc. Vibration may disturb the bottle’s sediments, unsettling the gentle process that causes the wine to age well.

2. Store your wines horizontally

If your wine bottles have corks, make sure to keep them horizontally in your wine rack. By doing this, you will be able to keep the cork moist which plays an important role in effective long-term storage. Dried out corks may cause premature aging and seepage.

3. Keep your wines at the right humidity

Extreme humidity in your wine storage or cellar will affect the longevity of the wine. A low humidity level will let the cork dry out, which leaves the wine more susceptible to the effects of oxygen. Whereas too much humidity may cause the labels to peel off. Generally, the ideal humidity in your cellar is between 60% and 68%.

4. Store your wine at the correct temperature

Temperature is one of the most important factors that will affect the overall quality of stored wine. Excessive cold and warm temperatures will spoil the wine faster.

As a general rule of thumb, the perfect temperature whether for short-term or long-term storage is about 55 degrees Fahrenheit, but it will vary from wine to wine.

For recommendations when it comes to the right temperature, you can consult the producer of the wine. Regardless of the label or varietal, your wine shouldn’t be stored under 25 degrees Fahrenheit as that may cause it to freeze. Avoid higher than 68 degrees Fahrenheit as this is too warm. In fact, high temperatures may ruin unstable compounds and rush the aging process.

In addition to those considerations, the temperature must be kept stable. Changes in temperature may cause the cork to contract, which allows the wine to seep out and oxygen to seep in.

5. Avoid any strong odor that may stain the wine

Despite the fact that it might seem convenient, it is actually best to avoid storing your wine in your kitchen for long periods of time. Keep in mind that the wine will breathe through the porous cork. Thus, you should keep your bottles away from food, trash, and other strong odors.

Look for a place where you can designate your wine rack in a dark corner of a closet. For example. Make sure it is away from cleaning solutions as well as other possible contaminants. If possible, store the cork of your wine away from garlic and paint cans.

6. Do not keep your wine on top of the refrigerator

Though it is a convenient idea since you will be able to access your wine if you want to drink with ease, you should not do it. Although the top of your fridge may seem like a great place where you can store your bottles, it is actually one of the worst areas in your household for wine storage.

You should consider the vibrations from the refrigerator with the compressor cycle on. Remember that vibrations may greatly affect the processes happening in the wine affecting the aging process and the taste. You want to try and keep your wine bottles away from any vibrations.

Also, your refrigerator will give off heat. With the interior parts working hard in order to keep the inside cool, a considerable amount of heat is being produced.

Last but not least, the top of the refrigerator is often close to light fixtures. Keep in mind that light bulbs can give off a lot of heat and that may prematurely age your wine.

7. Keep your expensive wine in a professional wine locker

If you have expensive wines that you plan to keep for years, consider keeping it in a winery or at a local wine locker.

Such places will make sure that your wine is at the perfect humidity and temperature at all times. You should consider this tip most especially if you are planning to store your wine for more than 15 years.

8. Keep your wine in a wine refrigerator

If you don’t have a wine cellar, a wine fridge can be a great alternative. Compared to standard refrigerators that keep food dry and very cold, a wine refrigerator will keep your bottles of wine between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit and at the ideal humidity.

Keeping wines in a separate refrigerator will also help prevent cross-contamination from food smells. However, if you are worried about the price, keep in mind that wines can be a great investment and a decent wine refrigerator is one great way to protect your investment.

There you have it, the eight tips that you may want to take into consideration if you want to keep your bottles of wines for years.

Cheers!

Do you enjoy wine tasting when you travel? Comment below to share your favorite wine tasting experience!

Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya

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