It doesn’t matter if you have 500 bottles of wine or you only got 5 in store. The last thing you want is for you to compromise the taste of your precious wine or for all bottles to go bad completely before you even get to take a sip.
Sadly, not all wine connoisseurs are blessed with the luxury of having their own wine cellar. This is why it is important for you to learn how to keep your drinks fresh until the day you finally uncork them. Here are some dos and don’ts when it comes to proper wine storage: A good wine rack helps a lot.
Dos
- Keep it chilled.
Average room temperatures tend to be quite warm for wine serving and storage. Wine quickly ages and goes bad if the ambient temperature is warmed. Wines kept in room temperature don’t get a chance to express themselves completely and taste duller. Always keep your wine chilled to make the most out of their natural taste.
- Choose a convenient spot for storage.
Even though it is good for your wine, it is not convenient or practical to have your wine stored in your upstairs closet free from dangerous elements. Wine, either closed or open, is a great topic to start conversations and bring people together. Make sure you keep your wine bottles in a convenient and accessible place, ready for retrieval and opening anytime and every time.
- Keep the wine bottles where it is easy to view and choose one.
You should know what you got in your collection and where you should look for it. While it helps to document your collection, nothing beats having a clear visual display of it.
- Store wine bottles on their side.
This is all about cork moisture. When bottles are kept on their sides so that wine constantly touches the cork, you prevent the problem known as corked wine.
Don’ts
- Don’t keep wine bottles in the kitchen fridge for a long time.
A lot of people assume that the best way to solve the temperature issue is to store their bottles inside the refrigerator. However, unless you have a dedicated wine refrigerator, this practice may do more harm than good.
- Don’t place the wine atop the refrigerator.
Convenience may be important but you also need to consider maintaining the integrity of your wine. It may seem logical to put your bottles on top of the refrigerator but the vibrations and all the processes happening inside your refrigerator can affect the aging process and taste of your wine.
- Don’t store your wine under direct sunlight or harsh interior lighting.
Lighting helps to showcase your collection but you need to use the right kind of lighting here. Remember that average household lighting can give off heat that is not recommended for your wine. UV and sun rays are even worse. Keep the bottles away from your windows and other natural light sources. LED is your best option for light source because it emits a soft glow with no heat.