Are you a wine lover but not sure how to store it properly, or maybe you bought a little too many bottles of wine for the party and now you don't know what to do with it?
Whatever the case, in this article we are going to explain everything you need to know about storing wine in order to maintain its quality.
First, destroy some myths
You must have heard all too often that wine gets finer with age, right? Well, while this is true in certain circumstances, it is not true in all! Only a small percentage of the fine wines on the market benefit from long-term aging and for this to happen the storage must be very specific. The aging process takes place before bottling – the wine is under very strict conditions in a barrel and gains aroma both through the wood and through the slow processes that occur with limited oxygen input. After the wine is bottled, little can change (for the better).
Do you store a closed wine?
If the wine has not been opened at all and you follow all the necessary steps to preserve it, it will certainly retain its quality for a few years later. Now let's talk in more detail about how to do this.
The importance of temperature
Temperature is extremely important when it comes to properly storing wine – especially long-term. Basically, the temperature shouldn't be too cold or too hot, and we're talking about a very strict range here.
The ideal storage temperature of a few weeks is 13 ° C, but it can vary depending on the wine. It is also best if the temperature is kept constant. Since a normal refrigerator operates at lower temperatures that can oscillate, it is best to use a wine cooler that you can find out about the quality, usage, and price ranges on this website. Stability and optimized constant conditions are the key points for maintaining wine quality, as changes in temperature can cause the cork to expand and contract, which further causes air to enter and catalyze spoilage.
Regardless of the type of wine, you should never keep it below -4 ° C. It could cause the wine to freeze, and if that happens, you can throw it away, too. On the other hand, keeping wine at temperatures above 20 ° C can accelerate the aging process in a bad way, as this leads to the destruction of the volatile compounds.
Horizontal or vertical?
This is something that may seem unimportant at first, it actually plays a pretty important role. If the bottle of wine has a cork, the cork needs to stay moist – especially for long-term storage. Why so, one might ask? Dried out corks can lead to both seepage and premature aging. To prevent this from happening, you should store your bottles horizontally so that the wine comes into contact with the cork.
What if my bottle doesn't have a cork?
While horizontal storage is important for the corked wines, it is not required if the bottle has an alternative closure. Note, however, that horizontal shelves are a more space-saving way of storing wine bottles and cannot harm your wines in any way.
Turn off the light!
It doesn't matter if you store wine for months, weeks, or days – you should keep it in the dark as much as possible. The reason for this is the fact that UV rays from direct sunlight tend to damage the crucial wine components that are responsible for its aromas and flavors.
What if you've already opened the bottle?
Okay, we've already established that if a bottle of wine hasn't been opened, if it's well preserved, it can last for years – but what about the bottles you've already opened? If you store a bottle properly, it can last around 3-5 days. The most important thing when it comes to extending the shelf life of an open wine and maintaining its quality is to cork it quickly and firmly. The most efficient way to do this is to use wax paper, as this will make the cork easier to get into the bottle and prevent stray parts of the cork from falling into the bottle. If the cork has splintered or thrown away, you can always use a rubber stopper to create a tight seal.
The most important things to focus on when storing wine are the temperature, the light sources, the horizontal position of the bottle when it is corked, and overall durability. If you take care of all of these areas, your wine is sure to last a long time.
