Important Factors That Affect Wine Storage

The wine undergoes chemical processes as it matures, resulting in different textures, flavors, and scents. It can age poorly or well, and correct storage can guarantee that your wine ages properly. Continue reading to discover more about the key factors that might influence your wine during storage so that you can maintain your wine collection for maximum taste and quality. 

Temperature

When wine is stored at an excessively high temperature, it might spoil or get damaged. In addition, high temperatures can cause the cork to dry out and shrink, allowing air to enter the bottle and harm the wine. Conversely, when wine is stored at too low a temperature, it might freeze and expand, pushing the cork out of the bottle or breaking the bottle.

The ideal temperature for extending the life of your wines is around 12ºC / 55ºF. Although there may be some variation depending on the wine, this is a great all-around temperature for your collection. 

Humidity

Humidity plays a crucial role in keeping the cork moist and staying in the bottleneck. Dry air can cause cork to dry out, while extremely damp wine cellars or storage areas may cause labels to peel from bottles, which makes them difficult to sell or display.

It is critical to have a wine cellar that fulfils all of the necessary conditions, including appropriate humidity levels. Humidity levels of 50 to 80% are deemed acceptable, and pouring a pan of water into your storage location will help enhance conditions. 

Light

Light is another factor that can affect the flavor, appearance, and fragrance of your wine while it is in storage. Wine exposed to a lot of light will age faster since it causes a chemical reaction. This can harm the wine’s inherent flavors and aromas, resulting in an unpleasant acidic taste.

Therefore, wine bottles should be stored in a dark environment to avoid light exposure, such as a wine cellar. Alternatively, you can use wine storage boxes to protect your bottles from light damage. 

Vibrations

Do you know that vibrations in a wine storage space can ruin your wine? A vibrating storage environment can alter the chemical balances in your wine bottles, resulting in unfavorable changes in aroma and taste as well as a reduced capacity to develop over time. Furthermore, movement can keep sediment from settling at the bottom of the bottle, which can leave undesired sediment floating around the bottle.

If you intend to age wine, you should always handle the wine bottle boxes softly and deliberately. When rearranging your wine or picking up bottles, it is usually best to prevent fast movements, especially with aged wine. A wine bottle protector is also helpful to keep your wine from getting ruined when travelling.

Storage Angle

Vibrations and excessive movement, as well as how you store your bottle, can all have an impact on the chemistry of your wine. By laying a wine bottle on its side, at least 50% of the cork is submerged, you can keep the cork moist. You may also store your bottles angled upwards or downwards (no more than 10º) to protect them from drying out.

Final Thoughts

Proper wine storage makes a difference in color, flavor, and character for both novice and seasoned wine drinkers. So consider the aforementioned factors and follow a few easy tips today to keep your wines secure until you are ready to enjoy them.