Wine Storage - How Does Temperature and Conditions Affect Wine?
Proper wine storage can make the difference between a sour, bitter wine or a lush flavorful one.
Wine can often be altered by temperature and humidity changes, as well as noise and daylight.
How the bottle is set down can also make a difference.
By paying attention to the following details you will help to keep it flavorful and properly aged.
-Wine that has not yet been opened should be kept in a horizontal position, keeping the cork in contact with the liquid.
The cork will stay moist and not dry out.
A dry cork may let unwanted air into the bottle.
This can cause your wine to become bitter.
-It's best to store in a slightly chilled location, for example a cool basement.
For optimal results, purchase a wine cooler.
-Make sure the shelf or cooler that holds your wine doesn't incur any vibrations.
Continuous movement of this kind will create air in the liquid, causing it to oxidize while still in the bottle.
Residual particles at the bottom of the bottle will also swirl into the wine, negatively affecting its flavor.
-Minimize the exposure to daylight.
Light rays destroy the flavor of wine and cause it to age too rapidly.
Too much daylight can cause the surrounding air to become too dry and negatively affect aging of the wine.
A humidity level of 72% is perfect for protecting the taste and hue.
-Never store wine in a very cold location.
A temperature under forty degrees Fahrenheit will halt the aging of your wine.
-For proper wine storage, keep the bottle a good distance from any strong smelling items or chemicals.
These smells can permeate the wine bottle and destroy the taste.
-A key to beneficial wine storage is to only store it for the recommended time period.
Certain wines do not get better with age.
Most contemporary, low cost wines fall into this category.
Red wines take approximately two-ten yrs to properly age.
The exact time period is based on what specific red wine is involved and its balance of compounds.
White storage should only stretch over a two-three yr time period.
However, certain Chardonnays can be stored and matured in excess of twenty years.
-Specific wines taste better when at specific temperatures.
After taking your bottle out of storage, before consuming, bring your wine to the optimal table temperature.
-Blush, rose and dry white: 46-57F (8-14C) -Sparkling wines and champagne: 43-47F (6-8C) -Light red: 55F (13C) -Deep red: 59-66F (15-19C)
Wine can often be altered by temperature and humidity changes, as well as noise and daylight.
How the bottle is set down can also make a difference.
By paying attention to the following details you will help to keep it flavorful and properly aged.
-Wine that has not yet been opened should be kept in a horizontal position, keeping the cork in contact with the liquid.
The cork will stay moist and not dry out.
A dry cork may let unwanted air into the bottle.
This can cause your wine to become bitter.
-It's best to store in a slightly chilled location, for example a cool basement.
For optimal results, purchase a wine cooler.
-Make sure the shelf or cooler that holds your wine doesn't incur any vibrations.
Continuous movement of this kind will create air in the liquid, causing it to oxidize while still in the bottle.
Residual particles at the bottom of the bottle will also swirl into the wine, negatively affecting its flavor.
-Minimize the exposure to daylight.
Light rays destroy the flavor of wine and cause it to age too rapidly.
Too much daylight can cause the surrounding air to become too dry and negatively affect aging of the wine.
A humidity level of 72% is perfect for protecting the taste and hue.
-Never store wine in a very cold location.
A temperature under forty degrees Fahrenheit will halt the aging of your wine.
-For proper wine storage, keep the bottle a good distance from any strong smelling items or chemicals.
These smells can permeate the wine bottle and destroy the taste.
-A key to beneficial wine storage is to only store it for the recommended time period.
Certain wines do not get better with age.
Most contemporary, low cost wines fall into this category.
Red wines take approximately two-ten yrs to properly age.
The exact time period is based on what specific red wine is involved and its balance of compounds.
White storage should only stretch over a two-three yr time period.
However, certain Chardonnays can be stored and matured in excess of twenty years.
-Specific wines taste better when at specific temperatures.
After taking your bottle out of storage, before consuming, bring your wine to the optimal table temperature.
-Blush, rose and dry white: 46-57F (8-14C) -Sparkling wines and champagne: 43-47F (6-8C) -Light red: 55F (13C) -Deep red: 59-66F (15-19C)
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