Wine stored properly really does taste significantly better than wine stored poorly, and so it is definitely worth putting in the effort to ensure that your wine is stored the right way. Follow the advice set out below and you will be able to enjoy your wine as the wine producer intended you to; you will be able to enjoy it at its best.
The main thing you need to know when it comes to wine storage is to place your bottles on their side somewhere and away from direct light. Doing just these two little things alone will greatly minimize damage over time in terms of deterioration of taste and flavors. However, learning a little more than the basics is advisable and thats what we ll look at now.
Temperature is an important factor when you re dealing with wine. Keeping your wines between 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal; though a range of 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit is considered acceptable. A lower, colder temperature causes the aging process to slow down, preventing the wine from aging properly. A higher temperature, on the other hand, can prematurely age your wine and cause it to go bad. Either way, is considered to be damaging to wine, and will noticeably worsen the taste of it
Temperaure fluctuations are something to be aware of too, as one of the worst things that you can do to your wine is subject it to varying temperatures. As bad as it is, a steady temperature at the extreme end of the acceptable range (45 or 65 degrees Fahrenheit) is better than constantly varying temperatures within the ideal range (50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit). The temperature should never fluctuate more than 5 degrees a day; this is especially important for red wines, which are more susecptible to damage from temperature fluctuations than white wines.
Keeping track of humidity is also important in wine storage. You want to aim for a humidity level of around 70 80 and can purchase a hygrometer to track this. If your storage area is too dry, the corks on your bottles will dry out and air will be able to seep through the edges of them. If air does manage to come into contact with your wines, prior to time that you actually want to drink them, then a vinegar like taste will develop in them.
A wine cellar is obviously the best place to achieve these optimal conditions, but due to their cost and the space they take up, they are not an option for most people. However, it is not too difficult to mimic the conditions of a wine cellar in a basement or garage. Just install a wine rack and set up a thermometer and and temperature / humidity guage to keep track of conditions.
If you are wondering how long to store your wine for, there is no straight answer, as many factors must be considered, not limited to the production technique, style of wine, and region where it was produced. However, a good rule of thumb is to age reds for up to 10 years and whites for no more than a year or two. If you have a bought a good bottle of wine though, you should aim to be more specific, and should consult an wine aging chart, which are available free online, and can help you establish exactly how long to store a particular wine for.
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