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Did you know that most people (you included) are probably storing your wine incorrectly?
You may not even realize that there is a correct or incorrect way to store it, but there is! And storing it the right way can make a huge difference in how you enjoy your wine.
If you want to know how to store wine, this guide is for you. Keep reading to learn all you need to know about how to keep your wine fresh with the right storage mechanisms!
The first step to how to store wine first has to do with what wine you are trying to store. There are different ways to store different wines, so it is crucial that you are aware of what you are doing.
Here are a few things to ask yourself when you are figuring out how to store wine:
Once you know the answer to these questions, you can get started with the other important aspects of wine storage.
One of the most important aspects of storing wine is that you don't want it to be in the sun. Direct sunlight can actually change the chemistry of the wine, which is the last thing you want - especially if it is nice wine!
So what happens if it sees direct sunlight?
The sulfur-containing amino acids in the wine will oxidize.
This will change the overall taste of the wine.
To avoid this, you need to store your wine away from the light. Not only is this direct sunlight, but you will also want to keep it away from fluorescent fixtures.
This rule is especially true for white wine because it is typically stored in clear bottles. These clear bottles are more susceptible to light harming the structure of the wine than wine that is in darker bottles (which are typically reds).
So what do you need to do? You should store your wine away from any light - this means it should be in a dark and dry place. This is what will keep it tasting its best for years to come.
And don't be tricked - UV light can penetrate through some cabinet doors, so make sure that you choose UV-resistant doors.
Another crucial tip to remember when it comes to wine storage is the temperature that you need to store it at.
Most wine should be stored between 45 and 65 degrees. Storing wine above 70 degrees can cause it to spoil, which is not the goal.
The exact temperature that you store it at also depends on the type of wine as well as your preference.
For instance, red wine is more likely to be stored closer to 65 degrees, but anywhere between 58 and 65 is a good temperature to keep it at.
White wine should be chilled a bit more, so this will be on the lower end of the temperature spectrum.
In terms of the humidity, you should store the wine around 70%. Anything more than this can cause mold to start growing. Anything under this humidity level could cause dried out corks, which could end up breaking when you try to uncork the bottle.
When you store your wine, try to ensure that the temperatures don't fluctuate. This can also affect the quality of the wine as well. The more constant that the environment is in the wine storage, the better the wine will be and the longer it will last.
Storing corked wine bottles upright may seem like a logical thing to do. It can save space for starters. It is also easy to set them up in the right manner.
However, this can actually do more harm than good.
If your wine has a cork in it, it is crucial to store it on its side. This is why wine racks are a thing!
Upright storage of a corked wine bottle can cause the cork to dry out. When this happens, and the cork dries, the wine bottle can take on oxygen. This will change the wine and can even be a waste of an entire bottle!
Wine has an expiration date. That is why it's important to go through your wine stored away every once in a while to make sure that it is still good and not expired.
There are some wines that are better with age but others that are not meant to age. The majority of wines will not last more than a year or two.
However, it's important to note that not all wine is going to come with an expiration date on the bottle. You need to keep track of when you got the wine and try to consume it within a year or two. If you don't, it may lose some of its taste.
However, if the wine is meant to age, that is not the case.
So how long can your wine last?
Red wine can last up to three years when stored properly. White wine will last about one to two years when stored properly.
Although you may think to store wine in the kitchen because that makes sense, this can actually taint the wine in a way that you wouldn't want.
When you store it in the kitchen, any strong odors associated with cooking can actually permeate the cork and change the taste of the wine.
It's not a common thing that people enjoy their wine with a slight taste of food as well! It is best to keep your wine away from foods like garlic and other strong scents.
To do this, try to store your wine somewhere other than the kitchen. Think about an office space, the basement, or even a closet so that there are doors between the bottles and the kitchen.
It can be tempting to store your wine bottles in your normal fridge for a long time - especially your white wine bottles that you can easily throw in there to get cold.
Although this is okay to do in the short term, the long term can taint the bottles.
They will be exposed to odors that are in the fridge, and the vibrators from the refrigerator compressor can actually harm the wine as well.
If you do put white wine in the fridge, consume it within one to three days once you open it. This is when it will be at its best.
Once you put the wine into storage, you should keep it there. Just as the refrigerator vibrations can harm the wine, moving it around a lot can also cause the same effects. Going from upright to sideways to upright can cause a lot of harm to the wine.
Keep it in one place until you are ready to consume it. This way, you are getting the best version of the wine that you can get!
If you are wondering how to store everyday wine, especially how to store wine without a cellar, and are wondering if you have to go through all of these elaborate steps, the answer is no!
Everyday wine is not as volatile, so it can be stored in a much easier manner. Just find a darkish space that has some bit of humidity.
Want to know an easy place? Your kitchen counter may actually be the answer for you! The closet or the pantry can do the same thing for you.
If you are a wine lover, you want to make sure that your wine is good when you actually open it. However, this can take a lot to ensure this!
There are crucial steps that you need to be aware of in order to store wine the right way. Now that you know how to store wine, you'll be able to enjoy all of your wine just how it should be!
If you are ready to get some wine to practice how you want to set up your storage, check out wine from McKinney here.