Storing Wine At Home

When buying wine for collecting or for later drinking it is important to understand that wine has similar properties to fresh produce and unless appropriate steps are taken for preservation both produce and wine will spoil over time. Storing wine at home requires many considerations due to the length of time many people may wish to keep their bottles prior to opening them.

Many wines may actually improve with age but once the bottles are open they will begin to oxidize.

Typically wine is stored in glass bottles with a natural cork seal to maintain freshness. As long as the integrity of the bottle and the cork are maintained the wine will be preserved. However, red, white and even fortified wine will begin to spoil if the wine storage method is not appropriate.

Heat, light, humidity and temperature variances can all have a negative effect on wines as well as vibrations of the wine storage container.

Wine cellars are designed to protect the bottles of wine from direct sunlight as well as to maintain a constant temperature and humidity level. In some instances storing wine the right way is more important to a wine lover than the comfort of their guests and dining facilities with an extensive wine list spend more money on wine storage than is spent on customer amenities.

Wine Racks Designed With Bottles In Mind

When someone decides to build a wine cellar in their basement they will take into account any windows through which light can penetrate. Any windows will be covered to prevent light from entering. Additionally, sunlight streaming in through windows can cause unwanted temperature fluctuations.

The type of floor in the wine cellar can also play a role in the preservation effort as some older buildings with wood or dirt floors make it difficult to control humidity levels.

There are also units for storing wine at home that can stand independently and while some may have a glass front allowing the owner to verify the supply, other will have a solid front to keep out the light. Most home storage units will also require a vibration roof interior for the protection of the contents.

Placing bottles of wine in an uninsulated closet does not provide an ideal method of storing wine, especially if the wine is to be kept for several years.

Wine purchased for immediate will not require any special storage steps and some of today’s wine that are stored in a plastic bag inside a cardboard box can last several months without degradation of the wine.