Preserving the quality of the drink and the freshness of the bouquet: where to store wine in a city apartment?
Both expensive and relatively cheap wines must be stored correctly.
The preservation of its qualities depends on compliance with all conditions for maintaining the product.
If wine is not stored correctly, it can not only lose its aroma and taste, but may even be unsafe for health.
How and where to store wine in a city apartment, read the article.
Content
Where to keep it?
In a city apartment, organizing a place to store wine supplies is much more difficult than it might seem at first glance.
Conditions, in which the wine will definitely not spoil within the expiration date specified by the manufacturer, are quite clear:
- protection from exposure to sunlight and bright light;
- air temperature about +12°C;
- humidity level 60-80%;
- no shaking or vibration;
- protection from strong odors.
In a city apartment it is more difficult to find a suitable place. The ideal solution is to purchase a wine cabinet. It is a device that maintains almost ideal conditions for finding wines, and does not require special human control.
If there is no wine cabinet, then you need to pay attention to those places that approximately meet the requirements. It could be twilight in the living room, a free niche in the hallway or corridor, and perhaps even a dressing room. The kitchen area is least suitable for storing wine.
The best places to store bottles at home in the kitchen
If you decide to store wine in the kitchen, you should very carefully analyze the conditions in this room.
Which places are definitely not suitable? for placing a wine collection:
- near the stove;
- near windows and heating appliances;
- upper cabinets and mezzanines under the ceiling;
- open shelves exposed to sunlight.
Since warm air rises, the coolest places are closest to the floor. You can pay attention to the lower cabinets. It is preferable that they have doors that protect the contents from light.
When storing wine in the kitchen, it is advisable to prevent increases in humidity and temperature fluctuations in the room.
Should I keep it in the home refrigerator?
A household refrigerator used for food is not ideal for wine. It has too low a temperature, high humidity and constant vibrations, which are not desirable in the storage area.
This method of organization should only be used as a last resort for short-term storage.
Which is correct?
Purchased sealed wine can be stored for the entire expiration date specified by the drink manufacturer. It is important to adhere to storage conditions as much as possible.
In a closed container
A sealed bottle of wine can be kept in suitable conditions for years. The optimal places for its location are an equipped basement and a wine cabinet.
For short-term storage, you can use other places in the house or apartment to place your wine collection. If the wine will not be drunk immediately, it is recommended to place the bottles horizontally. This is necessary so that the cork is constantly wetted and does not dry out.
Rare exclusive red wines can be stored for up to 100 years, and even more.
In the open
After the bottle is opened, the wine begins to come into contact with air, and oxidative processes begin. The shelf life of the drink is significantly reduced.
If the wine is not drunk immediately, the cork should be returned, tightly plugging the neck of the bottle. Further storage should be organized in the refrigerator.
White and sparkling wines are not recommended to be kept in it for more than one day; red wines can be left for several days. It is recommended to use opened wine as quickly as possible.
In what containers is it possible?
Traditionally with wine glass bottles with cork stoppers are used. This is the most convenient and correct storage option. It is suitable for both a store-bought product and a home-made drink.
Sometimes homemade wines are bottled in plastic bottles. This solution has many disadvantages. One of the main ones is the likelihood of plastic reacting with the poured liquid.
Plastic bottles are not suitable for everyone, so you need to study the labeling, which is usually indicated on the bottom of the vessel. With reservations, it is permissible to use bottles marked PETE, PET, HDPE. You should also stop using plastic with numbers 3-7.
Regardless of the type of wine, the product should not be stored in a plastic bottle for a long time.
Video on the topic of the article
This video will show you how to store wine in a city apartment:
Conclusion
Storing wine at home requires compliance with the rules. It is important to remember that the noble drink, even in a sealed bottle, remains alive and continues to ripen. The more correctly the contents are organized, the better the unique qualities of the drink and the freshness of the bouquet will be preserved.
