When purchasing fine wine for the purpose of collecting it or storing it for later consumption, it is essential to keep in mind that wine is a living material. It will go bad over time if the necessary precautions for its preservation are not followed, and the proper storage of fine wine calls for many careful considerations owing to the length of time that many people store their bottles without ever opening them.
It is important to keep in mind that wines of exceptional quality may and will become better with age, but the vast majority of wines should be consumed when they are still young.
Fine wine storage is not a difficult process, but there are a few things you need to remember to do in order to maintain your wine in good condition over time. If you follow these easy guidelines to preserve your wines, you can ensure that they will have the finest possible flavor when you are ready to drink them.
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Position and Peace
To begin, the bottles must be positioned so that they are horizontal. This must be done in a secure location where they will not be disturbed. They have to be placed in a horizontal orientation in order for the wine to maintain constant contact with the cork, which prevents the cork from drying out. This is essential because if the cork dries out, it may allow wild yeast, fungus, or bacteria to enter the bottle, which may result in the wine having undesirable tastes. You should also make certain that the wine can sit undisturbed for an extended period of time. The wine will continue to alter in the bottle as it matures, and sediments will build as a result of these changes. You want these sediments to fall to the bottom of the bottle and remain there so that you do not contaminate an older wine with the lees when you pour it into a decanter. Even while a wine rack isn’t essential, it’s still something you should consider purchasing. Your wine collection may be neatly arranged and protected from unintentional damage in this way.
Temperature
It is also important to keep wines away from any sources of heat and at temperatures that are not too chilly. You don’t want to keep them somewhere that has a chance of experiencing cold conditions since this might cause the bottles to crack. In addition, keep the temperature of the wine no higher than 64 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent it from being overcooked, which is another way that wine may acquire unpleasant tastes. The objective is to maintain a steady temperature while avoiding direct sunlight. A cabinet space that is kept at a low temperature and is protected from the heat would function very well. In addition, there are a lot of different kinds of wine coolers available on the market nowadays, and all of them will preserve your wines in excellent condition until you are ready to drink them.
Light and Humidity
Light and humidity both have some influence on wine, although to a smaller but still noticeable extent. When wine is kept in direct sunlight for an extended period of time, the plant-based chemicals in the wine may undergo alterations. When wine is exposed to intense sunlight for extended periods of time, it may have a negative impact on both the scent and the body of the wine. It is important to maintain a humidity level that is sufficiently high so that the cork does not contract from the outside. However, excessively high humidity can foster the development of wild yeast, fungus, and bacteria, which may hasten the process of deterioration. The optimal range for humidity is between 30 and 60 percent.
Wine cellars are constructed such that the wine bottles are shielded from an excessive amount of light and that the temperature and humidity levels are kept stable throughout the cellar.
Before you begin constructing a wine cellar in your basement, it is important to take into consideration any windows that allow light to enter the space. It is necessary to cover all of the windows in order to stop lights from coming in. In addition to this, sunlight that enters a room via windows might result in unwelcome variations in temperature. The kind of flooring that is present in the wine storage facility is another factor that is taken into consideration during the preservation process. In older buildings, the presence of wooden or dirt floors may make it challenging to maintain appropriate humidity levels.
Glass Bottles With a Natural Cork Stopper
When wine is stored, it is often done so in glass bottles with a natural cork stopper. This helps to ensure that the wine retains its freshness for as long as possible. However, the wine will only be safe to drink if both the bottle and the cork are kept in their original condition. If the wine is not stored properly, however, it will go bad, and this includes both white and red wines as well as fortified wines. In addition to vibrations of the container in which the wine is stored, heat, light, changes in humidity, and temperature variations may all have a detrimental effect on the wine.
Having a wine cellar is highly recommended if it is at all possible. It is important to note that this is not just a general phrase for a location to store wine. The ideal place to store wine is in a cellar (below the earth), where the temperatures are normally lower and more stable. Additionally, the cellar or basement of a house is shielded from the sun’s potentially destructive rays.
If you take the time to store your wine carefully, the bottles will age nicely until you decide to open one of them, which will be to your benefit since you will be rewarded for your efforts. It doesn’t take much work to take care of your wine collection, but doing so will help safeguard your financial investment and make enjoying your wine that much more enjoyable.
