Wine Storage Solutions: Ideal Conditions And Peak Flavors
Sunday, December 30th, 2007 by Subscribe To Our Feed
An oenophile is a person who loves to discuss and to drink wine. Wine is a truly remarkable beverage, which came into being because of the ubiquity of yeast in the environment. When yeast lands in grape juice or any other sweet liquid, it interacts with the sugars present to produce fermentation.
Ancient people found that yeast did not ruin grape juice but changed it into a completely different drink with a kick, because the fermentation changed the sugar into alcohol. Ancient people did not see this a a bad thing so they began to make juices, mostly grape juice, into wines.
There was a time when wine storage solutions were not much thought about. They used crocks and ewers to store their wine then. With few ways to control the temperature or humidity, no one could ever be certain that the storage of wine would serve to help it to reach the peak of full taste. It was discovered that caves and cellars enhanced the wine, and that is how the first wine cellars started.
Modern wine lovers have learned that wine needs different conditions depending on whether it is developing or being stored. These days, wine lovers also know that wine storage solutions have to meet a variety of different situations. Open wine racks can provide the proper type of wine storage for modest wines in a home, as long as the home is kept at a reasonable temperature and humidity.
Wine storage coolers can be purchased to control the exact conditions your wine will be stored in. Coolers can be found in a multitude of sizes, ranging from a single bottle cooler, best for individual use, to refrigerated walk-in coolers for extensive collections. An individual’s choice of wine storage solutions will depend on both the size of the collection to be stored and the individual’s budget.
Wine is fussy if it is to stay at its peak, or to reach it by careful aging. The temperature range is pretty narrow, needing to be no lower than 40 degrees and no higher than 65 degrees Fahrenheit with as little variation as possible, and no more than about five degrees. The less frequent temperature variations occur, the better. Less than one time each year is recommended and the humidity should also be kept at more than fifty per cent. The cooler should be light tight or out of direct sun, which can also harm wines.
Wine storage solutions must also store wine bottles at the proper angle, and it is preferred that they be completely horizontal, lying on their sides. An angle of up to a maximum of 45 degrees is tolerable, but less than 25 degrees is much better. Coolers can just be units to stack loose bottles, but these are hard to use and racks are better. There should be spaces for unusual shapes and sizes of wine bottles if possible. If the unit will be visible, the display should also be attractive.
An oenophile is an appreciator of wines, and they have existed since wine was invented in ancient times. Wine storage solutions weren’t a big problem when there were so few options, but today many solutions are available. Wine should be stored between 40 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, at least 50% humidity, direct sunlight should be avoided and bottles should be as horizontal as possible. Wine racks are a good idea for modest wines, but serious oenophiles might want to consider wine storage coolers instead. These are available in many different sizes and for many different budgets.
- Summer Wilde
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