The average aging time for wine we drink today can be said to be a couple of hours. From the time we buy it at the store to the time it takes us to drive home, pop the cork and place it on the dinner table. For many of us storing wine isn’t an issue as we buy for consumption.

I can think of a few reasons to purchase multiple bottles at a time;

• For the convenience of not running to the wine store as a separate errand;
• To take advantage of any quantity discounts when your favorite bottle has been discounted;
• And, it’s always great to have extras on hand for gifts, or to bring to the hostess of a party.

There are things we need to spend more effort to keep safe, and one of those is our age-able wine collection. When you are a wine collector, you must know the proper way to store wine and if the wine is worth storing.

It is not enough to store them in a cabinet in the corner of the house. They are not decorations or displays for amusement. 

You need to insure the temperature of the space, as a house can vary in warmth from various appliances and sunlight. Too much heat can cause your wine to taste tepid as well as increase the spoilage rate.

Proper wine storage

What does proper storage mean? How do you properly store your wines?

Providing the proper storage for your wine collection is like preparing the home for your children. That being said, just as children are resilient, wine too is more forgiving than you think. For short term storage (a few years), your basic requirements are:

• darkness
• steady temperature

Ultraviolet light can create heat, and as we said above, it is one of the ways to increase wine spoilage. The temperature should be consistent. If you store your wine in a place where the temperature could spike, causing the contents to expand, push against the cork and compromise the seal. Air is another component that can increase wine spoilage.

A basement is an ideal place to store wine, if you have one. Here in South Texas basements are rare. So, try under your bed, or somewhere close to the floor since heat rises.

Before starting to store wine, make sure that you know whether your wine is age-worthy, and know their lifespan as some wines are not meant to be saved.

Tips On How To Properly Store Wines For Beginners:

• The ideal temperature for storing wine is from 45° F to 65° F. If it goes higher than this, it may cause the wine to age faster.
• It is not advisable to store wines in a refrigerator for a long time. The temperature inside may be colder than 45°, and because there is no moisture, the cork will tend to dry out and allow the air to seep inside, damaging the wine.

The perfect temperature for wine storage is 55°

• Avoid light and especially sun exposure. Just as the sun is bad for your skin, it is the cause of rapid aging. That is why wine bottles are usually colored. It serves as a protectant. Turn off the light in the storage and as much as possible use incandescent instead of fluorescent bulbs.

• Vibration is not good for wine as experts believe that it could prevent the wines from settling. It contributes to premature aging as it stimulates a chemical reaction. Some wine enthusiasts worry about even the slightest vibration.
• The excellent humidity level for wine storage is 70 percent. There is also a famous trick of keeping the perfect humidity by placing a pan of water. If your storage is damp, it could encourage molds and could then damage the label and packaging of the wines.
• Store the wine bottles sideways and allow the wine to touch the cork which will prevent the cork from drying out and allowing oxygen inside. However, if you have different types of plugs like screw caps or plastic corks, then storing wine bottles in a sideways position could save you more space.

If you do not have a basement or a particular space for your wines, you can use a storage room in the house as long as it is not the kitchen, laundry room, or anywhere that involves temperature change. Also remember to choose a spot without windows to keep out of direct sun rays.

Many factors could affect the life and quality of wines, and if you are serious about collecting, you should be knowledgeable in providing them with the right place to stay. You need to take care of them carefully as they tend to have a life and a world of their own.