How to Store Wine Properly
Whenever I am given (or bought) a beautiful bottle of wine, I am immediately confronted with the question of whether I am going to drink it right now or something I want to drink later.
Most people don’t store tons of wine these days, but when you come across one or two bottles that you want to keep for several years (or several decades), it’s important to make sure you keep that wine for as long as possible. right.
Keep them alone
The best thing you can do for your wine is to keep it at a stable cool temperature. If your wine gets hot, it may have a muted aroma and taste. The ideal temperature for storing wine is 45-65 degrees, and you never want it to exceed 70. Your refrigerator is not really the right place (unless you store the white wine you intend to drink for dinner) because it gets too cold and the plugs may dry out. Instead, choose a nice, cool spot in your basement or back of your closet. Or, if you store multiple bottles, use a wine cooler.
Go out
Light is the enemy of wine (and beer). Make sure the wine storage area stays dark and is not exposed to direct sunlight.
Exposure to sunlight can lead to premature aging of the wine and a deterioration in the overall quality of the wine. If you really want to play it safe, use incandescent bulbs whenever you store wine over fluorescent lamps, although both will probably work.
Store them sideways
There is a reason why all wine racks store wine on their side. Store the wine on its side so the wine does not touch the cork, which keeps the cork moist and prevents it from drying out. You don’t need to store wine with a screw top or plastic stopper on its side (but you can), but sealed wines should absolutely always be stored sideways.
Keep things consistent
If possible, try not to move the wine if you don’t need to. Some argue that vibration can affect the quality of your wine in the long term. While a few strokes from time to time will probably do little, it is best to limit the movement of these bottles as much as possible.
Know your wine
Don’t just buy bottles and store them. Talk to the wine manufacturer when you buy the wine and find out what they have to offer in terms of how long the bottle is aged. Some wines can be aged for 20 years or more and they will only get better. Other wines need to be consumed over several years, otherwise they will begin to change in a negative direction. Know what you are storing and when it is best to consume it.