Wine is among few things which tend to improve with age and so there are a certain steps to be followed while cellaring wines, so as to ensure that the wine ages well. The basic and important factors are absence of any kind of light, lack of vibration and movement and reasonably consistent temperature. For more information on the same lines, please do keep reading.
Direct sunlight tends to damage the wine and give it a foul smell and therefore it is advised to keep your wine collection in a totally dark location or place if possible. Temperature also affects the wine in many different ways and if wine trends to freeze then the cork can be pushed out easily, thereby resulting in instant exposure of air subsequently spoiling the wine.
Also, if the wine is stored at too high a temperature which is over 77°F or 25°C, then the wine will actually get “cooked” and will be ruined. Most experts advise that the best temperature range of storing wine is about 10 to 15°C. Some temperature fluctuations are okay for any wine storage but sudden changes may damage flavor of the wine. Normal seasonal changes tend to be fine. Vibration and movement tend to affect the wine quality as well and therefore it must be stored in permanent areas and moving them should be avoided. Most wine experts advise that wine bottles must be stored horizontally as it tends to keep the cork moist and avoid shrinkage as well.
Cellaring wines at home is common and an average householder can go for a cupboard or even the basement or in any area which is farthest from sun exposure and near the ground. You may opt for cartons and eventually wine rack system, as and when your collection grows. In a nutshell, by properly cellaring wines, you will be able to enjoy wine of exquisite quality and taste.
Great article, thanks. All too often good wines go to waste because of careless storage.