May 25 2012
How to Store your Wine Collection in a Wine Cellar to Protect It
If you stock wine at home, it is vital to store them in the right conditions. Among the greatest additions to a home is the wine cellar which is primarily used to secure wine. This may either be in the basement or attic, but should not be limited to these places. The good thing about a wine cellar is that it facilitates proper ageing or maturity of wine as anticipated by wine makers. If you store wine in a cellar, then keep the following things in mind.
1.) Control Humidity and Temperatures in the Wine Cellar
Controlling humidity and temperatures of wine cellars is a very important aspect of wine storage. But, several people seem not to be aware of the need to control temperatures and humidity in the cellar. For your information, humidity moistens the cork and prevents it from drying. If the cellar is not moist, then the cork shrinks and this may cause wine to be sucked through the cork. Additionally, oxygen may also pass through and cause mold. But, if the average humidity is maintained at 65%, then the cork will remain intact.
Additionally, extreme temperatures may ruin the wine, but at 55F, the wine remains good. Failure to keep track of temperature changes may lead to reduction in wine quality. A cooling mechanism should be installed in a wine cellar to create favourable temperatures for wine storage. This mechanism will eliminate reliance on external environment conditions when storing wine.
2.) Keep the Wine Still
When storing the wine, ensure that there is no disturbance or vibration of the bottles. Some people are too happy to stock wines above the refrigerator for convenience, but refrigerators have vibrations which agitate the wine. In turn, this prevents the sediments from settling in the wine and this destroys the quality of good wine. So, keep the wines stationed in a place with minimum vibrations to maintain its quality.
3.) Keep Wine Bottles Leaning
The other step you should take when storing wine is to keep the bottles leaning on the side in your cellar. In fact, this has become a matter of custom. Storing wine this way ensures it remains in constant contact with the cork so as to keep it moist. Consequently, it reduces the possibility of shrinking and oxygen seepage which may oxidize the wine and change its color, taste, and feel.
4.) Keep Out Light
As you would expect, colored bottles of wine come with UV filters to prevent light from passing through into the wine. But, this doesn’t protect the wine completely. When wine comes into contact with light for a long period, then its flavor fades away. In effect, the wine then ages prematurely and loses its inherent quality. Most people think that white wine is the one which is only affected, but red wine is also affected by exposure to UV.
In conclusion, it is important to regulate the humidity and temperature of the wine cellar for to create favourable conditions for storage of wine. Variation in temperatures and humidity lowers the quality of wine. Wine bottles should also be stored sideways and exposed to the least vibration. These are just some of the things you can do ensure your wine retains it quality.
Wine cellars are as important as a roof over your head to every wine lovers. Find out more about custom wine cellars and learn how to get one for your wines.
