The Basics of Wine Storage

New to the wonderful world of wine? Don't be intimidated by the long-time connoisseurs and their professional grade wine cellars. While wine is a very delicate beverage, you don't need to invest thousands of dollars in a place to store it. There are just some basic rules you have to follow, which we will lay out below.

Cool and Consistent

Unlike most beverages, you don't want to keep wine in the refrigerator. While heat is wine's biggest enemy, too low of temperatures can also negatively affect the taste. The ideal climate for your bottles depends on the type of wine you have; sweet and sparkling wines are best kept at 45 degrees, while rich reds do better at 65. All in all, 55 degrees is widely considered to be the best temperature, but even more important than the number is the consistency. Temperature fluctuations are not good for wine, so you will want to do your best to keep the temperature as constant as possible.

Lights Out

Ideally, your wine storage area should be dark. The suns ultraviolet rays can cause your wine to prematurely age, and even household light bulbs can still inflict minor damage. Many winemakers use colored glass bottles to help block some of the UV rays, but the thin layer of glass can only do so much. You can invest in special low-UV lighting, or take the low-tech route and keep the lights off and the sun out.

Steady As She Goes

While not as damaging as heat or light, many experts believe that excessive vibration can also alter the taste of your wine. The theory is that constant shaking, no matter how minor, speeds up the chemical reactions in the liquid, and can agitate the sediment, preventing it from settling properly.

See Things Sideways

It is highly recommended to keep stored wine on its side. Not only is this method of storage space-efficient, it also helps preserve flavor. If the humidity of your storage area is not closely controlled, the cork could dry out and shrink. When this happens, air can enter the bottle and deteriorate the integrity of your wine. Keeping the bottle on its side ensures that the liquid remains in contact with the cork at all times, helping to prevent it from drying out.

So where can you find a place in your home that is consistently cool, dark, and vibration-free? If you have a basement, that would be a decent option, but your best bet is to purchase a wine cooler. If you own a wine cooler and it is failing to keep a consistent temperature, contact the refrigeration repair experts at Speedy Subzero. We have 75 years of experience serving Long Island and New York City, so call us anytime at 866-782-9376.

FAQs About Wine

Wine is one of the most studied and scrutinized beverages in the world, but those of us who are not experts can easily be overwhelmed by the amount of information available. If you are new to the wine world, here is a good place to start.

At what temperature should I serve wine?

Unfortunately, there is no standard temperature that every wine is best served at. As a rule of thumb, experts agree that red wines should be served at a higher temperature than white wines, which should be served at a higher temperature than sparkling wines. Here is a great chart from BetterTastingWine.com which goes into more detail.

In what order should I serve my wines?

When serving multiple wines, adhere to these guidelines in order to acclimate your taste buds to the increasing strength and complexity of flavor:

• Dry before sweet
• White before red
• Light before heavy
• Young before old

What does it mean to let wine “breathe”? Should I do it?

The process of letting wine breathe simply means exposing it to oxygen before you drink it. This isn't necessary for most white wines, but some red wines can benefit from this. Opening the bottle roughly one hour before consuming it will make the wine smoother and more aromatic for the drinker.

How long do I have to drink my wine after the bottle is opened?

Most wines will last between three days and a week after opening if the storage conditions are right. Limiting your leftover wine's exposure to heat, light, and air is essential to keeping it fresh; your refrigerator should do a decent job at that.

How many grapes go into a bottle of wine?

According to Round Barn Winery, the average bottle of wine contains 177 grapes, or roughly 2½ pounds worth.

What is the best way to store wines if I don't want to invest in a wine cellar?

If you enjoy the occasional bottle of wine, but are far from a connoisseur, you may be wondering how to best store your bottles. If you are looking for a good storage system that won't set you back thousands of dollars, invest in a wine cooler. These mini fridge-lookalikes are specially designed for storing between 6-12 bottles of wine and can be purchased for less than $200.

If you live in New York and are having trouble with your wine cooler, Speedy Subzero can repair it for a fraction of the cost of a new one! We offer one-hour service to Long Island, New York City, and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut. Schedule a same-day appointment with one of our highly-trained technicians by calling 866-782-9376.

References: 

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Round Barn Winery