How to Do Proper Wine Storage
By Olivia Thomas

The proper wine storage techniques have been around for centuries. The act of storing wine is almost as complicated and takes almost as much time as it does to make it. This is because maintaining its taste and its quality is just as important as the manufacturing process itself. If it were not for proper wine storage, it would be pointless to create a high quality wine for the fact that it would taste terrible by the time it would be opened.

This brings about the point that it doesn't matter how much maturing potential the wine has or how good it is. It is all about how it is stored so it can mature correctly. So the first thing to take into consideration is that the proper storage place is a location that is around 55 degrees. In other words, it is a cool place. If the temperature fluctuates around 10 degrees from season to season, that is no problem. The area should not be one that is subject to drastic and frequent temperature fluctuations, but the area shouldn't be too damp or too dry either. And if you want to keep the corks in great condition, the storage area needs to have a humidity of about 70%. This prevents the corks from shrinking. If they shrink, you can lose your wine or lose the cork in the wine if the shrinking is significant.

Wine racks tend to be the chosen method to store wine bottles. Many individuals place them within the cellars because cellars are able to stay at a consistent temperature. There is also the fact that those areas are dark and dry. As for how wine racks properly store wine, it is quite interesting. The wine racks are designed to hold each wine bottle in a downward slant. It is the neck of the bottle that tilts down toward the floor. This is so the cork doesn't dry out. Having the wine in contact with the cork provides it with the moisture that it needs. Combine this with the 70% humidity that is required for successful wine storage and you'll be able to store each bottle successfully for long periods of time. Once the bottle is laid down, it should remain there until it is time to open the bottle. It shouldn't be constantly touched and removed form its storage space. If you want to show off your wine collection, you can do so without actually pulling the bottles out of your wine racks.

There are also some other things that must be taken into consideration when storing wine. Make sure you keep your wine racks away from vibrations and harsh light. This is why wine cellars, basements, and garages tend to be the best places to store wine. They do not get much in the way of light and they are rather stable, so vibrations do not usually occur. You also have to look at the type of bottle your wine is bottled in. Most wines are bottled in bottles that are made of dark glass. This is so very little light penetrates the bottle. Too much light can do harm to the wine. But don't think that a dark bottle is going to protect the wine 100%. Any exposure to ultraviolet light will still cause damage because it will penetrate even dark bottles.

It is fair to say that wine storage is almost a science. You have to make sure you have the right conditions or you might find that fifteen year old bottle of wine did not age the way you wanted it to when you break it open to celebrate your 25th wedding anniversary or your retirement. But with proper storage, you can pop the cork and enjoy a fabulous glass of wine.

Olivia Thomas is a freelance writer and wine lover. Go here for some wine accessories and wine decanters.

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