There’s nothing worse than having to pour delicious wine down the drain, except for perhaps the embarrassment of uncorking a fabulous bottle for friends only to find that its heralded complexity has gone flat. Your friends generously swirl and swirl but their glasses never get any emptier. Fortunately, whether you are an enthusiast or a burgeoning collector there are a few simple things you can do to ensure that consuming your wine is a memorable experience.
Storage Space:
If you are storing a bottle (or several) for less than six months, you may not need to invest in a wine cellar just yet. For long-term storage, there are special containers you can get that will keep two bottles to two hundred in premium condition. These pieces can look like a mini-fridge or an elaborate armoire and are specially designed to store wine at a consistent temperature and humidity with little vibration from the motor. If you have a growing collection and are considering building a wine cellar, it is good to consult an expert. Unless you live above a Champagne cave, your basement’s natural environment might not be ideal for wine.
Temperature:
The ideal temperature for storing wine is at or around 55° F, with little variation. Extreme cold will retard the wine’s maturation, while extreme heat can ‘cook’ the wine and spoil it. Avoid direct sunlight, especially in the case of white wine, which is typically stored in clear bottles.
Humidity:
Perfect humidity for storing wine is debatable, but most experts agree that around 77% humidity is excellent. Be aware that high humidity can make a label turn moldy and eventually fall off. For this reason, some winemakers stamp their name and the vintage on the cork.
At Home:
If you are storing wine at home, find a cool, dark place with a consistent temperature. (Avoid the trunk of a car in summer, for example.) It is best not to store a bottle in the refrigerator for more than a couple of weeks as the chilly climate and dry air in a fridge can cause a wine to go ‘flat.’ Also avoid the top of the refrigerator, as the motor can make the wine too hot and its vibrations agitate the sediment. Cupboards work well but avoid the spice-cupboard. Like the sensitive creature it is, your wine will eventually absorb the flavors of its environment. Likewise avoid storing wine near solvents or other harsh chemicals.
For wine to be stored longer than two weeks in the refrigerator or otherwise, it is best to store the bottle on its side so that the wine is in contact with the cork at all times. This keeps the cork from drying out and allowing extra oxygen into the bottle.
Leftovers:
For an open bottle, cork immediately and store in the refrigerator. Allow red wine about an hour to come back to room temperature or pour immediately into glasses and warm by hand. Some wine enthusiasts prefer to use a pump to remove some of the oxygen in the bottle. This can keep the wine from oxidizing as quickly and extend its drinkability by one or two days. But what real enthusiast would have wine left over?
Putting Your Wine to Bed:
When in doubt, remember that your wine needs the same bedtime environment as you do—a dark room, consistent temperature, and minimum vibration (as anyone who has put a quarter into a hotel bed can attest).
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