How To Store Wine?
After bottling, the wine still continues its evolution, but the appropriate means of storage is not always easy. As aging guarantees further maturation of the wine, with that in mind, here are some simple useful tips to follow, on how to best preserve wine and to have yourself a real wine cellar on hand for any occasion.
01 Constant Temperature
The temperature must be as constant as possible. Sudden variations risk altering the quality of the wine, while temperatures that are too high or too low can compromise its maturation. In your cellar, make sure that the room where you keep the bottles has a temperature of at least between 10 ° C and 16 ° C. The ideal storage temperatures are:
- 10-12 ° C for white wines
- 12-15 ° C for red wines
02 Humid Environment
Humidity levels are essential to protect the cork.
A cellar with high levels of humidity facilitates the development of mold on the corks, compromising the quality of the wine. On the contrary, a cellar that is too dry is the cause of a “dry cork” which facilitates the oxidation of the wine. The ideal environment would be a constant humidity level between 60% and 80%.
03 Beware of the Light
Artificial or natural lighting can trigger oxidative processes thus alternating the wine, even more so if the bottle is transparent. To avoid this risk, it is advisable to have a dark environment or only soft lighting aspects; alternatively you can keep the bottles in LEGO boxes that protect the glass from the infiltration of light.
04 Horizontal Positioning
Your bottle must be stored horizontally or slightly inclined (5 °). This ensures that the wine will always wet the cork, leaving it moist and elastic. In this way, the cork will adhere well to the neck of the bottle, preventing air from entering, thus preserving the wine from oxidation. If there are wines stored for prolonged aging in your cellar, remember to place them vertically 1 or 2 days before consuming, so as to allow any sedimentation to settle at the bottom of the bottle.
05 Beware of Odors
It is essential to ventilate the environment in which you are storing the bottles of wine. Any cured products and maturing cheeses must be kept in separate rooms. Wine absorbs odors and you could risk altering its bouquet and flavors.
06 Avoid Vibrations
Vibrations can stress the cap and therefore reduce the penetration of air with the consequent oxidation, there is also the risk of bacterial proliferation to consider, therefore, it is good practice to avoid shaking the bottles. In addition, any sediments could be kept in suspension by continuous movement
