Several years ago, my wife and I began collecting wine from our U.S. wine trails adventures. At first, we used our basement to store the wine, graduating to a handsome wine rack a few years later. Only after a few bottles didn’t meet our taste expectations did we learn the importance of proper wine storage.
A few years ago at a dinner party, we served a bottle of wine from one of our favorite New Mexico wineries, regaling our friends with how much we enjoyed it at the tasting room. To our disappoinment, the wine tasted well below expectations when opened and served. Only later did we learn that we’d stored the wine improperly, which accounted for the off taste.
Improper Humidity Affects Taste
While I hate humidity, a stored bottle of wine requires moderately high humidity to maintain its taste. We stored our wine in a very dry area of our home, which accounted for the uneven taste of the bottle of white we served our guests. If you’re storing wine, aim for 50% to 70% humidity levels. Wine cellars have humidity controls built in, so if a wine cellar is your storage choice, you’ll be fine.
Proper Temperature
Extreme temperatures are an enemy to wine, whether it’s too hot or too cold. Wine is best stored at 55 to 57 degrees. A good wine cellar takes temperature levels into consideration and even allows you to arrange different temperature zones for specific storage needs. Also, air circulating fans should be designed into wine cellars to help maintain a constant temperature and humidity level.
The Less Light The Better
Exposure to too much light can also negatively affect a wine’s taste. Even if a bottle is dark colored, keep it out of the sun, as UV rays can hurt wine and increase bottle temperature. Your wine storage area should contain minimal light, especially if you’re storing wine in clear bottles.
A Few More Tips
If possible, keep your stored wine away from heavy traffic areas in your home, so as to eliminate vibration. Excessive vibration will tamper with wine’s taste. Even when transporting your wine home in a car, keep it inside the vehicle and not the trunk. Temperature and vibrations in the trunk are detrimental to your wines.
The keys to proper wine storage are optimal temperature, humidity, and low light conditions. As you become more interested in wine, you’ll find that attention to these details will enhance the wine’s taste and your ultimate enjoyment of your purchase. Cheers!