Rosehill Wine Cellars brings you a 2-part series of tips to make your wine taste better!
It’s all in the storage and handling techniques.
It may be surprising to some, but the way your wine is stored and handled has as much to do with taste as does the way it’s made. Wine is a food, so proper storage is critical for maintaining its quality.
If you are a serious wine connoisseur, then storing and handling your favorite vintages is also a serious matter.
At Rosehill Wine Cellars, we pride ourselves in assisting wine lovers with expert advice on wine storage needs.
| Tip #1 – Wine Storage Temperature |
Maintaining the optimal temperature and avoiding wild temperature swings is most crucial to proper wine storage. The optimal storage temperature depends on the wine’s age and how long it will be stored.
Wine can be stored safely from 40°F to 65°F (4° to 18°C). But, 55°F to 57°F is the recognized norm. If your intention is to store your wine for longer term, cooler temperatures are desired.
| View our selection of wine coolers with adjustable temperature controls, and wine cellar cooling units for full environmental control. |
| Tip #2 – Humidity |
Storage humidity levels should ideally be between 50-70%, not much higher, nor lower.
This humidity level reduces cork shrinkage. Wine that tastes bitter or like vinegar is usually the result of failed corking causing wine oxidation.
| Tip #3 – Wine Storage Angle |
When wine is stored on its side, the cork remains wet, thus the transmission of air through the cork into the wine is minimized.
If bottles are stored upright, the cork may dry out, allowing oxygen in the air to cause chemical changes in the wine, spoiling it.
| View our wine racks with several configurations of side angled bottle holders that also help reduce vibration, for longer term storage options. |
| Tip #4 – Vibration |
Vibration disturbs the slow process of biochemical evolution in wine.
For long-term storage, wall anchored wooden racks are typically the best option as the wood dampens any micro-vibration, and wall anchoring helps to eliminate any sway in the racks.
Woods like redwood, non-aromatic cedar, and mahogany are best for your racking system.
| View our selection of wooden wine racks for cellar and open area storage. These wood racks have a smooth radius edge, which helps prevent vintage label tearing or damage. |
| Tip #5 – Lighting and Darkness |
While dark-colored bottles help shield wine from sunlight, ultraviolet light can penetrate even dark-colored glass, causing oxidization of the tannins.
Storing wine in dark conditions is essential.
Whenever possible, put your cellar lights on a timer. Low wattage, non heat emitting lights are better for wine storage than fluorescent lighting.
Thank you for reading. Stay tuned next week for part 2! Be sure to follow us on Twitter, or subscribe to our blog RSS feed to ensure you don’t miss the next installment in this series.
