As well as enjoyment, being a wine connoisseur brings a whole host of responsibilities that must be noted in order to ensure that your wine collection stays at its very best. We are all familiar with our favourite wines and many of us choose to keep a well-stocked wine rack close to hand stocked with the crème de la crème of luxury wines, yet how often do you take the time to ensure that your bottles are stored correctly?
Wine storage may seem like a bit of an unnecessary chore, but the last thing that you want to do is to find out that the vintage you have been saving has been completely ruined by incorrect storage.
Enjoying a glass of an evening is a great way to relax and unwind after a long day, yet if you aren’t careful, this could easily turn into more of a nightmare. Wine is a particularly fickle drink, especially luxury varieties, which means that if you don’t make sure to take the correct precautions, you will find yourself running the risk of spoiling the contents of your whole collection.
Of course, when you have invested so much time and money into curating the perfect collection, the last thing that you want is for all that effort to be for nothing. To help you avoid any issues and keep everything exactly as you planned, here are some top tips to help you ensure your wine collection is stored correctly.
Choose the right location
Most people already have a place where they store their wine but have you got a dedicated area set aside for this purpose? Many vintage wines have very specific requirements in order to be kept at their best, which is why a wine cellar or specialist storage area is always a sensible option. Traditionalists will always say that a wine cellar is the best bet, and the benefits of this are certainly clear to see. However, not every home comes complete with a wine cellar, so there are alternatives if this is not a viable solution for you.
When you are deciding on the optimal location to store your wine collection, there are a number of factors which must be taken into account, not least finding solutions to moving your extensive collection, though a good start would be to find some sturdy wine crates to ensure wine bottles will be secure when being moved around.
It is always best to avoid direct light, whether it is sunlight or artificial lighting. Excess levels of lighting can prematurely age wine and cause it to become flavourless. To avoid this issue, a cellar or darkened room will keep your wine at its best. Similarly, a consistent temperature should be maintained at all times in order to avoid any problems. Although every wine is different, the majority prefer to be kept somewhere within the range of 10-20 degrees Celsius. Keep your bottles away from windows and heaters, and definitely avoid the temptation of the fridge unless you plan to drink it within a week.
Is the positioning right?
As well as the location, the way in which you store the actual bottles themselves can also have an impact on the quality of your wines. It is always best to store bottles on their side, especially if you are in the process of collecting wines which won’t be consumed for a while. Being stored on the side allows the liquid to remain in constant contact with the cork, stopping it from drying out and breaking apart. Of course, though, there are always going to be exceptions to the rule. Sparkling wines must be stored upright so that the bubbles are kept up.
While it may take a little time to get everything organised and in order, the rewards of this hard work will soon be clear to see. After all, with luxury wines, it is always better to err on the side of caution and ensure that you are better safe than sorry. When stored correctly under the right conditions, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to sit back and relax with a glass of your favourite wine in hand – enjoying your drink at its very best.
