How to Store the Wine to Ensure Proper Aging?

Wine is a gorgeous beverage and it is not possible to fully enjoy the taste and flavor of the beverage if you do not understand it. Wine is also a sensitive beverage so you need to handle it with extreme care. If you want to maintain the quality of your wine collection then you need to know about all the factors that are important for creating the ideal storage conditions.

If you fail to create the perfect storage conditions then the wine will fail to age properly and its texture and taste will not develop as it is supposed to be. Wine cellars are the perfect place to keep your bottles but if you do not have one you can always use upright or under counter commercial wine fridge.

Here are a few storage tips that will ensure proper aging of the wine.  

Temperature Specifics:

Different wines have different storage temperature so it is essential that you are aware of the temperature specifics. The red wines should not be kept at a temperature lower than 55 degrees. But the full-bodied red wine can be stored at a higher temperature and the light-bodied ones can be held around 50 degrees.

The white wines need conditions that are cooler than 55 degrees. It is best served at a slightly lower temperature. The full-bodied white wines can safely be stored at about 40 to 55 degrees F.

One basic rule that you need to remember is that all types of wine will be safe if you store it under 70 degrees.

Steady Temperature:

Temperature is critical for ideal wine storage as it helps on conserving the taste and texture. Temperature fluctuations are not good for the wine as it can hinder the aging process. Make sure that the storage temperature is steady so that the chemical reactions that result in aging are not hindered.

Maintain Ideal Humidity:

Humidity is also an important factor for wine storage. The range of humidity should be between 50 to 80 percent. The cork of the wine bottles keeps the oxygen out of the bottle because oxidization can ruin the wine. If the storage conditions lack the humidity then the cork will end up drying and cracking.

Horizontal Storage:

The position of the wine bottles can have a huge impact on the aging process. The wine bottles should be stored sideways because it keeps the cork humid. It prevents the cork from drying and cracking up so that that the oxygen does not enter the bottle. The excessive oxygen can ruin the chemical reactions and the aging process. Air exposure can lead to flat taste and aroma.

Keep Bottles Away from Light:

Light is not good for the wine so you need to make sure that they are kept away from the light. The light can speed up the aging process and the prematurely age the wine. The wine bottles are mostly tinted so that the light exposure is limited. Keep the wine refrigerator out of direct sunlight so the quality is not compromised.