Wine Cellars
By April | June 24, 2007
Wine is the only perishable drink that actually gets better with age. However, getting it to its peak age can be tricky if you don’t have the right storage area for it.
There are three main things that all wine needs to insure its life. The correct temperature, humidity and amount of light to receive.
Things to Know
Whether you are a collector of fine wine or just someone who likes to have a few bottles on hand for guests, you need a place to keep them. It is important to know what the perfect storage conditions are, what temperatures they should be kept at and how the bottles should lay.
- Temperature is an important part of wine storage. First off it should be constant, changing by very little. Also, wine should be kept at about 50 to 55 degrees. The temperature can increase and decrease by slight amounts if the change is a gradual one over a few months verses in a single week.
- Wine stored at cooler temperatures will mature slower and become more complex. All wines have an age at which they peak in taste. If it is kept cool, it will be able to hit that peak. On the other hand, if the bottle is stored to warm then it will age quickly and will not have the complex flavours.
- Humidity is also a factor. A wine cellar should be equipped with a humidity control systems. Having moisture in the air will help the corks keep their life. This is important because the cork is what keeps the wine in and all the foreign bodies out. If the corks become dry and brittle it will let air in.
- A cellar should have limited light and be, for the most part, dark. Light will age the wine. This is why a lot of wines are in dark bottles.
- A ventilation system is a great thing to have. It will filter the air in the storage area keeping it free of moulds and dust.
- The bottles of wine should be placed on their sides at a slight angle. The wine should be stored with the corked top a bit lower than the bottom of the bottle. This is to insure that the cork stays moist.
Where to Have Your Cellar
If you are looking at building a cellar in your home, you will want it somewhere quiet and calm. Wine should be kept very still and undisturbed. You will also want it in an area of the home that doesn’t have windows, like a basement. Also, keep in mind that the temperature needs to be on the cooler side without much change. By keeping these things in mind you will insure the life of your wine.
Topics: Food and Drink |