Time, temperature, storage room for bottled wine

Storing wine in bottles is the most convenient and correct way to maintain a collection.

Placing stocks requires compliance with a number of standards, since the drink is quite demanding in terms of conditions.

At what temperature, for how long, where is it better to store wine in bottles, read on.

Conditions

The classic wine cellar is not the only place where you can store wine. It is important to find a place that maintains optimal levels of humidity, temperature and light for wine.

Humidity

Humidity level where the wine is kept should be between 60% and 80%. This is important for bottles with natural cork stoppers. If the humidity is high, mold may develop on it, and if the place is too dry, the cork dries out and begins to leak air.

At what temperature?

Air temperature is one of the main indicators that significantly influences the preservation of the properties of the product during long-term storage.

The optimal value suitable for bottled wines is +12°C. Allowed range from +10 to +15°С.

If this temperature regime is maintained, the wine will be well stored and can be quickly prepared for serving. It is customary to cool it a little beforehand. For red it is +15 or +17°С, for white – from +9 to +12°С.

Despite the fact that the wine is in a sealed bottle, ripening processes continue to occur in it.If you place the product in too warm a place, this will accelerate its aging, sediment may appear, and the drink itself will lose its original aroma and taste.

Low temperature also affects the ripening process. A drink kept in the cold loses its notes of freshness and changes its taste.. White wines, rosé and sparkling wines are especially demanding in terms of storage conditions.

Lighting

Wine should be stored in a dark room. Bright light triggers chemical processes in the drink that lead to aging of the drink and changes in its characteristics.

Deadlines

The length of time wine can be stored in a bottle depends on several factors. These include:

• type of product;
• storage conditions;
• compliance with manufacturing technology, etc.

How long can you keep in an open container?

Once the bottle is opened, the shelf life of the wine is dramatically reduced. For sparkling drinks it is only 1 day, for white wines – up to 2 days, for red wines – up to 3-5 days. An opened bottle should be kept at lower temperatures than a sealed one, and always in a cool, dark place. Optimally - in the refrigerator.

Air begins to penetrate into the open container immediately after removing the cork., and oxygen saturation occurs. This inevitably leads to changes in the drink even if the cork has been plugged again.

It is advisable not to send unfinished wine for storage, since even after a few days it loses some of its qualities. An alternative option is enomatic. This is a special cabinet that allows you to extend the storage time of opened wine to several weeks with virtually no damage to the contents.

This video will show you how to properly store wine in an open bottle:

In closed

A closed bottle of factory-bottled wine can be stored under the correct conditions for the entire period of time specified by the manufacturer. Elite collectible drinks can last the longest. They are kept for decades and are uncorked on special occasions.

Aged vintage wines can last for several years, table and vintage wines are more often used young, without aging.

How to store it correctly?

In addition to the fact that you need to find a place protected from light with suitable humidity and temperature for wine, it is important to know how to position the bottles correctly.

Standard vertical position is suitable only if the wine is not planned to be stored and will be used in the near future.

In other cases, care must be taken to ensure the correct placement of the bottles.

Why is it stored lying down?

Storing bottles of wine lying down and at an angle is due to the fact that corks made of natural material are used for sealing. Therefore, according to the rules, they must be wetted by the liquid inside the bottle.

This prevents them from drying out and guarantees the quality of the sealing. As a result, the drink retains its properties and qualities..

At what angle should it be placed?

The best option for placing bottles is to provide an inclination. A sufficient angle is only 10-20°. This way the cork will always be in contact with the wine. But an organized tilt does not eliminate the requirements for air humidity in the place where wine stocks are kept.

Best places

Special places for storing wine include a wine cabinet and a wine cellar. In their absence, it is possible to adapt other areas in the house, apartment or even in the garage for storing your collection.

Cellar

A wine cellar is more than just a basement where bottles are stored. If everything is arranged according to the rules, all factors must be taken into account, even the level of groundwater and the composition of the soil.

Particularly important points when creating a wine cellar:

1. Natural coolness with a constant temperature of about +12°C. No high or low temperatures.
2. Protection from light, including artificial light.
3. Humidity - from 50 to 80%, if the wine is stored for 3-5 years. If longer, then -70%.
4. Equipping the room with racks for horizontal placement of bottles.
5. No vibration or noise, even at a low level.

The required tilt of bottles during storage can be arranged using special holders and shelves.

Wine cabinet

True wine connoisseurs always store their collection only in suitable conditions. If it is not possible to have a wine cellar, you can use a special cabinet. A modern wine cabinet is stylish and ergonomic equipment for long-term wine storage.

When choosing a cabinet for your home, you need to consider the following points:

1. Size.
2. Design.
3. Possibility of adjusting temperature conditions.
4. Maintaining the specified humidity level.
5. Division into several zones in which different conditions can be configured.
6. Material for making shelves (metal or wood).
7. Type of cooling (compression with some vibration and thermoelectric - no vibration at all).
8. UV protection.
9. Additional functionality.

Some functions that are practical for some may be superfluous.For example, the ability to remove shelves, a child lock, a breakdown notification, a signal when the door is open, etc.

Since the wine cabinet will work constantly, then It is advisable to choose a device with economical power consumption. In addition to wine, you can keep juices and carbonated drinks in this cabinet.

Useful recommendations for choosing a wine cabinet - video:

Conclusion

When planning to store wine in bottles, you need to understand that inexpensive copies purchased at the grocery store are simple products. As a rule, they are not kept for years and are consumed young.