Good Wine Storage and how to do it!
Now, not everyone has a dedicated wine cellar or wine fridge in their homes for good wine storage. What if we told you that there is a very simple guide to keeping your wine in its prime for drinking soon or in the future. There are essentially four main elements to consider when storing your wines and these are much easier than you might think! So, follow these guidelines and you will be collecting with confidence in no time!
Temperature
When storing wine, the ideal temperature is between 12-14 degrees Celsius maintained at a constant all year round. Avoid areas in your home that have exposure to excessive amounts of heat like near a fireplace or in an uninsulated shed or garage as that can comprise the seal of the bottle especially if the wine is sealed with a cork. Hot temperatures over a long enough time will fundamentally ‘cook’ the wine and permanently scar the taste of the wine. So, keep it cool and keep it constant!
Humidity
Although most wines these days are bottled with a screw cap, it pays to understand that fluctuation in humidity levels in the environment can damage bottles of wine that are sealed by a cork. If surroundings are too dry, the cork can shrink and oxidisation in the wine can occur. White wines are much more prone to oxidisation than reds as the tannins in red wine act as a buffer. Alternatively, if conditions are too humid, risks of mould or mildew are considerably higher.
Vibration
Unless you live near loud nightclubs or areas prone to earthquakes, keeping your wines from too much vibration shouldn’t be a huge issue for you. Short term vibrations are nothing to worry about however exposure to excessive amounts of vibrations can disturb the sediment in wine and catalyse chemical reactions to take place which can lead to agitated flavours and introducing unwanted changes to the quality, aromas and textures of the wine. For the best storage in your home, try to avoid housing your wines near appliances like washing machines, dish washers and fridges.
Light
Exposure to light is a huge adversary to the optimal preservation of wines; whether it is constant UV sunlight or fluorescent LED lighting, it is best to keep your wines in the darker areas of your home. Studies have shown that exposure to light reacts with the amino acids in wine and transforms them into unpleasant smelling compounds which can cause the tainting of the flavour and aroma of the wine. Too much light can also contribute to causing the wine to heat up and as we mentioned earlier, fluctuations in temperature is never healthy for wines. Be sun-smart. For good wine storage place your wines in a cellar or dedicated cabinet if you have one or your wardrobe, pantry or linen closet work just fine as well.
Try out some of our wines that love being stored and kept for a few years. Hang on to a bottle of our Premium Reserve 2021 Denmark Chardonnay or our Premium Reserve 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon for as long as you can and since you’re an expert in storing wines now, these wines will be undoubtedly amazing when you are ready to crack them open and savour every drop of it.
