Home Wine Storage

Storing wine, known as cellaring, is the method of keeping wine in a safe place usually in wine racks. Wine racks should be designed to hold the wine horizontally, slightly tilted at an angle so that the wine remains in contact with the cork. Storing wine in optimum conditions is important because if not done correctly in a few short years all you will have are the ingredients for very expensive salad dressing. However, home wine storage isn't as difficult as it sounds.

Storing wine is an important aspect of wine consumption, since wine is extremely sensitive to its storage conditions and is one of the few consumer products that can improve with age although, that said, the majority of wine that is produced is not designed to be aged at all – it is produced to be drunk shortly after bottling.

Until fairly recently, the wine producers regarded storing and ageing wine as part of their business, but since the 1960s they have steadily relinquished this role. Storing wine is a detailed and complex process that must be done correctly in order to produce perfect-tasting wine. Follow these wine storage guidelines to become a specialist in home wine storage. Wine requires a specialist solution due to its nature and home refrigeration or air conditioning do not provide adequate conditions.

Wine requires a humidity range of between 50–70%. If wine is stored in an atmosphere that is too dry the cork will shrink and allow air into the bottle. This will destroy the wine. Humidity higher than 70% can this lead to mould forming on the cork and the label, although these humid conditions are seldom to be found in the average household, so low humidity is usually of greater concern than high humidity. Corks will dry out and shrink very quickly when there is no moisture

Temperature controlled wine cabinets can provide an ideal solution for home wine storage where there is no room to build a wine cellar. Wine cabinets are built to match as closely as possible the conditions found in a wine cave. The temperature for these units is set between 55 and 60 degrees and the humidity is maintained between 60% and 70%. Temperature and humidity fluctuations are therefore avoided, and wine can age as the winemaker intended.

Exposure to ultra violet light is extremely harmful to wine and both sun and artificial light should be avoided. Ultraviolet light will damage a wine by causing degradation of otherwise stable compounds, causing unfavorable and irreversible changes in the wine. Clear glass bottles are most susceptible to this problem, but wine in dark glass can be damaged as well. The usually stable organic compounds, including the tannins, contribute to the aroma, flavor and structure of the wine.

So, to store your wine in the best possible conditions – built a wine cellar or convert a closet into a home wine storage space. If you do not have the space for a custom home cellar then consider a refrigerated wine cabinet. Your wine will be able to age as intended by the winemaker and you’ll be rewarded with many years of wine enjoyment.

Alison Stevens is an online author and maintains the website Wine Cellar Secrets to benefit wine lovers with tips, techniques and information about cellaring wine, wine collecting and wine reviews.