Wine Bottle Storage – Important Considerations (Guest Post)

I’ve decided that I will accept guest posts for this blog, especially while I’m pregnant, in order to provide you with fresh wine news. Here is the first from Chuck Withers over at Two Guys Wine Supplies.

If you purchase good wine on a regular basis, it simply costs too much not to store it properly. In fact, if you buy expensive bottles of good wines, you may not realize that you can turn them into average or even bad wines. While there are a number of different of storage types, the kind that is best for you will depend on how much you buy and how fast you use it.

Four Considerations for Storage of Wines

Temperature must be controlled when you are storing wine. The best range is between 50 and 55 degrees F. Excess cold may cause cork shrinkage which can allow air into the bottle. Too much heat forces wines to age too fast. Neither of these is good for the taste.
Air exposure, or lack of it, is very important. Storing the bottle at an angle so that the liquid always stays in contact with the cork helps keep it moist so that air cannot get in the bottle.
Bottle movement. When bottles are moved frequently, the sediments in the wines are mixed up into the rest of the liquid. Since you do not want to serve the sediments, it is important to keep the bottles still so the sediments can stay settled on the bottle bottom.
Too much light can be bad for the flavor, and this is why most modern wine-makers use bottles that help protect the grapes from UV light. However, you should still store your bottles where there is not an excess of light.

Floor Racks

Floor racks come in different shapes and sizes, but on the average will hold 20 to 30 bottles. This is the type of storage you will need if you intend to purchase your bottles now and use them over the period of several months. This type of rack must be placed where the light and temperature can be easily controlled and maintained.

Wall Mounted or Tabletop Racks

For the person who generally uses what he purchases within about a month, a wall mounted or tabletop rack makes the most sense. These kinds of racks will usually hold 8 to 10 bottles and come in a number of different materials as well as shapes and designs. They can integrate well with the rest of your decor and will keep the bottles at room temperature, which is fine for the short term.

Wine Cabinets

This type of storage unit holds between 10 and 20 bottles, so is right between the floor racks and the tabletop or wall mounted units in size. In addition to the bottles, the cabinets often include storage space for glasses and other accessories.

Wine Refrigerators

If you are very serious about your wines, the refrigerator is an excellent option. It will hold anywhere from 10 to 200 bottles, and keeps the liquid at a preset temperature. They also reduce the light that can get to the bottles. Storing your bottles can be easy, and you can find just the type of storage you need to match your lifestyle. The main thing is to remember that proper storage will affect the quality of your wines.

Article courtesy of Chuck Withers of the Two Guys Wine and Travel Blog, follow him on Twitter @twoguyswine for more updates on wine, travel and many more international delights.