Tips from winemakers on how to properly store wine

Wine, even those in sealed bottles, continues to ripen and breathe.

The intensity of chemical processes depends on the conditions in which the product is kept.

To preserve the taste and other properties of the noble drink, it must be maintained according to all the rules. We will tell you how to properly store wine below.

Storage rules

Wine in a closed, sealed bottle can be stored for quite a long time if suitable containers are selected and optimal conditions are created at the storage location. Opened and not drunk immediately – already needs to be stored in the refrigerator.

Conditions

The universal requirements for wines are protection from light, being at a temperature of about +12°C and a humidity of 60-80%. Significant deviations can lead to changes in the product, and even to its damage.

Place

Optimal conditions for storing a supply of wine can be created in the cellar or using a wine cabinet. The first option is available only to residents of the private sector, and requires serious repairs and re-equipment of the basement.

A wine cabinet is a device that automatically maintains the conditions required for wine. Appearance and equipment may vary.

It is possible to choose a cabinet with several temperature zones, which allows you to separate wines by type and store, for example, whites at a lower temperature and reds at a higher temperature.

If there is no special wine cabinet, you need to choose the most suitable place for storing wine - dark and not hot. The kitchen is not very suitable for these purposes, since the humidity and temperature in the room will constantly change.

You can try to find a place that meets storage requirements in the living room, hallway or even in the dressing room. For additional convenience and compactness, it is recommended to use special shelves. This is especially convenient if there are several bottles.

Which container is better?

The most practical type of wine packaging is the use of glass bottles. Tinted glass is safe for the drink, as it does not react with it and provides light protection from light.

The higher the alcohol and sugar content in wine, the greater the risk that the drink will spoil and even become unsafe for health. Plastic bottles are not suitable for long-term storage.

Peculiarities

For most types of wines, general rules for storage conditions apply. But there are some nuances when storing sparkling, red and white wines that must also be taken into account.

Significant deviations in conditions and temperature changes for the product are not desirable. At high temperatures, the ripening of wine accelerates, which leads to its aging and deterioration in quality.

Temperatures lower than recommended contribute to the attenuation of ripening processes in wine.As a result, the drink loses its characteristic notes of freshness, and the taste becomes worse.

Red

Full-bodied red wines tolerate long-term storage better than other types. Permissible temperature is up to +15-17°C.

White

The optimal conditions for storing white wines are their content at temperature +9-12°С. Acceptable - up to +15°C.

Sparkling

The shelf life of sparkling wine directly depends on compliance with production technology.

For regular drinks it may be only a few months. These bottles should be stored in a cool place, further cooling before serving.

Sparkling drinks are especially sensitive to changes in conditions. For them, the optimal temperature is considered to be +7°C.

Draft

It is advisable to store homemade draft wines from grapes at +10-12°C. If the bottle is plastic, it is better to keep the product at an even lower temperature, in a place protected from light.

Why is it stored horizontally?

Bottles with natural cork should be stored horizontally. This is necessary so that the cork does not dry out and is wetted with wine. In this form, oxygen access to the contents of the bottle will be limited.

These requirements apply only to stoppers made from natural materials. In the case where synthetic material was used for sealing, the position of the bottle during storage does not play a role.

If the wine is fortified, then during long-term storage it is advisable to alternate the position of the bottle from time to time. This is due to the fact that a saturated composition with a high percentage of sugar and alcohol can have a destructive effect on the cork.

Whenever moving or changing the position of the bottle, it should be handled with extreme care, avoiding shaking and vibration.

Video on the topic of the article

This video will show you how to store wine:

Conclusion

When wine stocks are kept in suitable conditions, bottles can be stored for years, maintaining their properties. Opened bottles can no longer be stored for long, even if placed in the refrigerator.