Wine Tips
For the person that enjoys drinking wine now and the benefits of cellaring wine there are a few simple steps and rules to consider. As a guide these fall into three areas.
1. Storing wine that has already been opened.
2. Storing wine for the short term.
3. Storing wine for the long term.
WINE THAT HAS BEEN OPENED
It is always a dilemma when a bottle has been opened as to how long you can store it for. For 90% of wine that most people drink there are lots of variables ranging from wine type, method of production, age of the wine. From the moment you open a bottle of wine the oxidation process starts and the wine begins to deteriorate. Since the oxidation process is like steel rusting the less oxygen that the wine is exposed to the longer it will take to go off. Initially oxidation will soften the flavors and opens up the aromas of the wine. As the process continues over many hours and days the wine will become undrinkable. There are many items on the market that will slow the effects of oxidation. These work on the system of creating a small vacuum in the bottle to slow down the process which will eventually destroy the wine. The cooler the wine the slower the oxidation process will be so refrigeration also helps. As the wine slowly degrades it will begin to develop tastes that are unpleasant. Depending on individual palates there will be different times that people will identify that the wine is going bad.
As mentioned earlier there are many variables but in general your wine can last up to two to three days if sealed and refrigerated. After this it would be a fine line between the palate and the sink.
SHORT TERM STORAGE
Short term storage would be for the wines you keep on hand for those spontaneous moments that you require a beverage. Stored in the kitchen, living or in a corner of the garage. Usually keeping wine for up to six months in this manner is fine. In simple terms your wine whether in short or long term storage should be treated the same.
Keep the wine at a low stable temperature of around 16 degrees. The cork should stay moist so lay the wine down. The location is free of vibration and not in close proximity to items with a strong odor.
While these basic rules seem obvious it is easy to forget that your wine rack which is also a decoration in your home may be over a heating duct, atop your refrigerator or close to the fire place. Also in a garage your wine may be near products that do have unpleasant odors.
LONG TERM STORAGE
If you plan to store wine for longer that six months then it is a good idea to have some forward planning. The storage area should have the following conditions.
1. The area should be dark. Most bottles these days have Ultra Violet filters built into the glass but light can still damage your wine over time.
2. Free of vibration. It is considered that vibration or agitation of the wine can affect the evolution of the product. Consider when placing your wine in a storage area that it is away from motors or pumps that cause vibration.
3. High humidity. It is a good idea to keep the wine in an area of higher humidity around 80%. Primarily this is to keep the cork moist.
4. Stable temperature. Ideal temperature for wine storage is between16-18 degrees Celsius or 50-55 degrees farenheight.