How to Store Wine

While it may often be too tempting to resist, good wines do not need to be consumed directly after they are purchased.

There is nothing wrong with allowing a quality bottle of wine to age a little bit more. However, if not stored properly, you wine could end up tasting more like vinegar. It is important to learn how to properly store your wine so that it tastes even better than on the day you purchased it.

The first thing that you have to keep in mind with storing wine is that only certain wines will benefit from long term aging. The majority of wines are best enjoyed within a few years of their release. If you are looking to store wine for aging, your best bet would be to look into a professional grade cooling unit, though we only recommend this for the true wine enthusiast, as it can be pricey. For the majority of wine drinks, these simple tips on how to store wine will help you age your wine to perfection.

Keep It Cold, But Not Too Cold

Temperature is the biggest variable when you are learning how to store wine. If your wine is stored in an environment above 70° F, your wine could cook and lose all of its aroma and flavor. However, if your wine is stored in an environment that is too cold, the cork could dry out, which allows air to seep through and also damage the taste of the wine. Also, if your wine were to freeze, it could expand and push the cork out. Although there is no exact science behind figuring out the optimum storing temperature, experts suggest that you store your wine around 55° F. It is also best to keep the temperature consistent. Varying degrees can damage the wine so it is crucial to pay attention to this tip on how to store wine.

Lights Out

One of the reasons that vineyards and wineries use colored bottles is because they essentially act like sunglasses for the wine. They help block out the harmful UV rays from the sun that can degrade and prematurely age wine. Average household lights probably won’t damage the wine itself, but it can damage the label. Your safest bet is to store your wine in a dark place.

Sideways

Another important tip on how to store wine is storing the bottle on its side. Keeping the bottle on its side allows the wine to moisturize the cork and prevent it from drying out. If your wine does not have a cork, or you are planning on drinking your wine in the near future, this tip on how to store wine isn’t as important to you. However, storing your wine sideways can also help you conserve space.

No Good Vibrations

Some common expert theories on how to store wine suggest that the vibrations from even a kitchen appliance can damage bottled wine. While vibrations do have the ability to disrupt the sentiment in older wines, it is less of a concern with newer wines.

So where is the best place to store your wine? It is going to vary depending on the person and type of wine. Different homes have different environments, so use these above tips to guide you on how to store your wine in your own home. A cellar, or even an empty closet, could be the perfect wine storage area for you. The one thing that we can tell you for sure is that the experts at Julio’s Liquors would be happy to answer any questions on how to store wine (or wine in general) that you may have. Visit us today to see our extensive wine collection!

Where do you store your wine? What are your best tips on how to store wine?