No matter what your fancy is, whether it is white, red, pink or sparkling, storing your wine properly is crucial. Simply storing your favorite bottle of wine above the fridge and forgetting about it for a year could severely alter the taste, and when you come to enjoy it at a special occasion, it might not be as enjoyable as you had hoped.

Despite wines being a delicate product, properly caring for and storing your wine can essentially enhance its’ aroma, flavor, texture and complexity as it ages.

How Long can Wine be Stored?

The first choice to make is the length of time you want to store the wine. Normally short term storage means 3 to 6 months and should be your cheaper, less treasured wines, where as long term can mean decades and should be held in reserve for your quality, precious wines.

Correct Storage Conditions

Whether you are storing your wine for a short or long time the same rules apply. The first and the most critical thing is to lay the bottles on their side instead of upright, this will ensure that the cork remains moist and doesn’t dry out.

Where they are stored is also important. The wine needs to lay still and not move about, so it is important that the storage area be free from any external vibration forces.

Temperature can also have an effect of the wine that is being stored. Ideally the wine should be stored at a constant temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit (12°C). The bottles should be protected from sudden temperature changes and if it does change it should be gradual.

Light can also affect the wine negatively. This is precisely why the wine bottle is made of colored glass, any light such as direct sun light will react with the proteins in the wine forming a haze and bad aromas.

Additionally light can negatively impact on a wine, which is why some wine bottles are made of colored glass. Wine must be kept out of direct sun light, since too much light can react with proteins in wine, thereby forming a haze and bad aromas to spoil its’ flavor.

If the wine is to be stored for a long time then precaution has to be taken to ensure that the humidity is maintained at a high level (approximately 70% or more). This will help prevent the corks drying out which in turn reduce the chances of the wine evaporating. Also, care must be taken to ensure the storage area is for wine only. Aromas from other foods or liquids stored in the same area could be absorbed by the wine itself.

Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labor!

When the time has come and it is time to open the bottle and enjoy your hard work. Remember you should drink responsibly but you should also finish the bottle of wine in a few days of opening as when the wine is exposed to the air it will mix with the oxygen causing oxidation and altering the essence of the wine.

For the serious wine lover, enthusiast, or hobbyist storing the wine correctly is of the utmost importance. The wine cellar is the ultimate place in which to store wine since it can hold numerous bottles and the temperature, light and humidity can be easily controlled.