Storing Wine
After wine is bottled, it continues to mature.
Wine needs controlled temperature, humidity, light, vibration, and should be stored flat.
The point of a wine cellar is to allow the aging process to continue properly.
Location
A basement can be a natural choice for a wine cellar, but it doesn’t have to be. When considering location, consider:
• A place that is cool
• A place where wines can be laid flat for storage
• A place that is dark
Temperature
Wines age best when held at a constant temperature – 52 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal.
Humidity
Humidity level should hold be near 70%. This level of humidity keeps the corks from drying and shrinking, which would compromise the seal of the bottle and allow air to get to the wine. The humidity is too high if wine labels begin to loosen or if there is any mold growth.
Vibration
Vibration shouldn’t be a major concern in most households – unless there is a teenager with a killer sound system sharing a wall with your wine! Typical household vibration won’t adversely affect your wine, but frequent high vibration (train tracks come to mind) can impede the normal sediment process, especially in fine wines.
Darkness
Direct sunlight, natural ultraviolet light and bright artificial light can age wine prematurely. Prolonged exposure to light can alter the chemical composition of the wine and ruin it completely.
Storage
Wine racks or cabinets that allow you to store wine bottles on their sides are an absolute requirements. Some wine racks allow for storing bottles two deep. Just put the wines that are ready to drink up front, with wines that are still aging at the back.