This is How You Should Store a Wine to Make it Last for a Long Time

If you have taken an interest, or you have started your wine collection, then you may have run into an issue that has always been the problem of the connoisseurs for centuries: properly storing wine.

Knowing how to store wine properly is that one knowledge that you need to know and understand how it works so that you will be able to store wines may it be for a couple of years or for a longer duration.

However, before storing wines, you should know that not all wines are made to last. Keep in mind that there are wines that you get in the stores that are meant to be drunk within a few years.

Are you interested in knowing more about wine and its proper storage? Take a read!

Know Which Wines are Meant for Aging

As mentioned, some wines can only be kept for a few years, and some wines are meant for aging. The following discussion is about the differences and the method of how table wines and aging wines are stored.

Table Wines. At wineries, there are wines called “table wines,” that are intended to be drunk right away instead of being kept for years. This includes lighter wines like red and white wines. Another thing that you should look out for is the cork. If the cork is a screw-top or synthetic, probably the wine is meant to be drunk right away.

It means to say that if you see the above factors in a bottle of wine, then it is to be consumed quickly, usually within five years.

White Table Wine Storing. Now, when you have white table wine, then storing would be different since it is meant to be chilled. Additionally, if you have this type of wine, then you should drink it immediately, within a week or a maximum of a month or two.

Red Table Wine Storing. Unlike white wines, red wines don’t need to be chilled and stored in refrigerators. For red wines, if you don’t want to drink them right away, you can store them in a cool, dry place wherein they are out of direct sunlight. You may even place them on the counter!

However, if your counter is exposed in direct sunlight, then it is better that you store the red wine in a place where the sunlight cannot reach it. Do note that if your house gets warmer than 77 degrees Fahrenheit or 25 degrees celsius, then you should pick out a cooler spot.

Know Which Wines can be Aged. Before planning to store wine for more than five years, then you should know which wines can be properly aged through storing such as a bottle of 2006 Sassicaia Wine. Now, if you do not know which wines are meant for aging, then you might want to get advice from professionals, or a sommelier.

However, wines that can be age have typical natural corks, which can set you back in terms of the budget than your average wine. With this said, the common regions wherein you can find high-quality wines for aging are at Tuscany, Piedmont, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Napa Valley, and Spain.

How to Store Wines For a Longer Duration

For storing wines in a longer duration, you should choose a storage room, which is a dry, dark, and cool place, wherein wines can be kept away from the sunlight, which degrades the wine over time. Also, it would be best if you choose a place away from your machinery since the vibrations from these kinds of equipment can degrade the stored wine.

Now, here’s a tip, if you cannot keep the bottle to be entirely out of the light, then you only need to wrap it lightly in a cloth, or put it inside a box.

Placement of the bottles. In this regard, you need to place the wine bottles on their sides. You may wonder why, well, it is because of the natural cork, which can be dried out over the years leading to the wine’s oxidation.

With this said, placing the bottle on its side keeps the natural cork damp and moist with the wine. The placement of the bottle is highly significant when it comes to storing wines, especially for ten years or so.

The temperature in storing wines. Maintaining a constant temperature of 13 degrees celsius is needed when you are storing wines. Now, the consistency of the temperature is crucial, which is why you should monitor your wine storage temperature.

On the other hand, if your place is humid, then you should also check how dry your storage is with a hygrometer and make sure that it stays in a 50-70% humidity. Now, this is also a crucial part of storing wines longer than ten years since the cork can dry out if the humidity is too low. If your room is not humid enough, then it might be better to invest in a cool humidifier.

Takeaway

The following discussed matter about wine storage are only the basics, and the things that you need to know firsthand when planning to store wines. Now, surely you can have your wine cellar at your own home!

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.