Note to connoisseurs of this noble drink: where is the best place to store wine?
Proper storage of wine is an art.
Connoisseurs of the noble drink ensure that strictly specified conditions are maintained at the location of the wine collection, and that the packaging complies with the standards.
We will tell you in this article where and in what is the best way to store red, white and sparkling wine.
Content
Storage space requirements
Even if the wine collection is very small, you must try to ensure that it is in optimal conditions. This will preserve all the properties of the product, including the unique aroma and taste of the drink.
Temperature
Optimal temperature for storing wine is +12°C. The permissible range is from +10 to +15°С.
High temperatures cause the drink to age and lose its delicate taste.
At low temperatures, the natural ripening processes in wine begin to fade, which also affects the quality of the product.
Humidity
Relative humidity where the wine is kept should be between 60% and 80%. If this indicator deviates downward, there is a possibility that the plug will dry out and lose its tightness.
Lighting
It is very important to avoid direct sunlight on the bottles.And even bright artificial light is not advisable for wine, as it negatively affects the quality of the drink.
Where should I keep it?
When determining a place to store wines, it is necessary to take into account how well the conditions will comply with storage standards. They must be as stable as possible so that the product is not subject to sudden temperature changes, does not move unnecessarily, etc.
Cellar
Adapting a conventional cellar for wine storage will require renovations in the selected room. If natural conditions do not meet the standards, you will have to take additional care to maintain temperature conditions, humidity, etc.
Wine cabinet
Purchasing a wine cabinet will make it easy to solve the problem of storing wine. This is special equipment that maintains all conditions at the desired level automatically.
The wine cabinet can have several sections with the ability to customize and regulate the temperature. Bottles are stored horizontally in it, as expected. There are cabinet models with separate sections that allow you to get the wine you need without even touching other bottles.
When choosing a cabinet, you should pay attention to the following points:
Number of shelves. The more there are, the better.- Material for making shelves. The best option is wood.
- Number of zones. It is convenient to have at least two of them - one for red wines, the second for sparkling and white wines.
- Humidity. If this parameter is not adjusted in a specific wine cabinet model, it should be around 70%.
- Additional options.
Taking into account the available space and interior, you can purchase a wine cabinet of the desired design and size.
Fridge
Winemakers do not recommend using a household refrigerator for storing wines for a number of reasons. Among them:
- vibration;
- temperature fluctuations;
- presence of foreign odors;
- temperature is lower than recommended;
- unsuitable humidity level.
The refrigerator can be used to briefly store started bottles of wine.
Is it possible in the freezer?
Wine should absolutely not be frozen, regardless of the type.. When exposed to low temperatures, irreversible changes occur in the product.
Even if the bottle is then transferred to a room with suitable conditions, the properties of the wine will be irretrievably lost.
In what container?
At home, wine is most often stored in glass bottles. It is advisable that the glass is not transparent - for additional protection from light.
Sometimes homemade wine is bottled in plastic containers. This is not the best option, since plastic may react with drink, and the lid does not provide such a tight seal as a cork.
If the wine is poured into plastic bottles, you should use it first. Please note that not any plastic bottle is suitable as a container for temporary storage. You need to check the labeling. It is usually indicated on the bottom.
It is acceptable to use plastic with the following markings:
- PET;
- PETE;
- HDPE.
In addition to the letter designation, numbers also participate in the marking. For wine, the following values cannot be indicated: 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. In home wineries, wine can be stored not only in bottles, but also in barrels.
In an oak barrel
It is believed that cooking wine in a wine barrel gives the drink a special, refined aroma.
In contact with the walls of the barrel, the wine absorbs oak extracts, and the drink is enriched with new notes:
- tobacco;
- tea;
- aroma of cherry, vanilla, etc.
During the aging process, the wine partially evaporates. A loss of up to 4.5% of volume per year is considered a normal process. At the same time, the remaining drink only becomes tastier and richer.
During aging, the wine has virtually no contact with air, only through tiny pores in the solid wood.
In small volumes, aeration has a beneficial effect on the product, changing some of its properties:
- reduces acidity;
- giving a more saturated shade;
- reduction in astringency, etc.
Wines produced using wooden barrels have their own characteristics. These include:
- enrichment of color and taste;
- environmental friendliness;
- acceleration of aging;
- purchasing additional nutrients, etc.
As the wine undergoes aging in a barrel, it acquires a complex and rich aroma.
Open and closed bottle
Preserving the bouquet and taste of wine requires compliance with certain conditions, which differ for open and sealed bottles.
An open bottle is dealt with differently:
- If there is very little content left in the bottle, it is better to pour it into a smaller container to reduce the contact of the drink with the air in the bottle.
- The bottle must be tightly corked and placed in a cool place.
When corking an open bottle with a cork, it should be inserted with the same side with which it was originally inserted. If you turn it over, you can introduce new bacteria.
Place and container for different types
There is an opinion that wines only get better over the years. This statement is not true for all drinks. It concerns mainly expensive collection varietal wine.
There is no point in maintaining a budget product that can be purchased in a store. - he won't get better. Proper storage can extend the shelf life of the product and preserve its quality as much as possible.
White
Pink and white varieties, taking into account their acidity level, can last for a relatively short time - 2-3 years on average. But there are also exceptions. For example, Burgundy has a shelf life of up to 20 years.
Basic requirements for conditions of detention:
- maximum peace, no shaking;
- being in the dark;
- humidity – about 70%;
- air temperature for dessert +15°C, for dry +12°C.
Bottles should be placed horizontally. It is better if they are made of tinted glass. Otherwise, it is important to pay special attention to protecting them from light.
Red
Red wine can last longer than white wine. But, on average, no more than 10 years. The level of temperature and humidity indicators is similar to white varieties. Red wine also doesn't like shaking. The best storage option is glass bottles with cork stoppers..
Sparkling
Sparkling wines should be kept in stable conditions.The recommended temperature is about +7°C, other conditions are the same as for other types of wines. Real sparkling wines must have a cork.
Video on the topic of the article
The video will tell you where it is better to store wine in a city apartment:
Conclusion
Storing wine, homemade or purchased, requires careful compliance with the conditions at the place of storage. At its core, it is a living drink that goes through several stages until it is fully prepared, acquiring a subtle, original bouquet of taste and aroma.
