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Keeping it Corked
For wine lovers, buying the stuff may be the easy part. Once that is taken care of, there is the unfinished business of storing, aerating and finally serving it
By Rakesh K. Simha
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| How to properly store wine is a question you’re bound to get a multitude of answers for. Most wines will store just fine in the refrigerator for a couple of days, but if you plan to leave the wine on the countertop to keep it at room temperature, a little more may need to be done. There are several forms of wine preservers- vacuum seals are common.
In general, Champagne and sparkling wines are stored and served at an optimal temperature of around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The Domaine Ste. Michelle is a wonderful everyday wine, and keeping a few bottles in your refrigerator will be just fine. Keep the rest in a cool place as well, and they should easily last 3-4 years.
If you’re cellaring a wine, you want to keep it on its side to keep the cork moist. This helps keep the seal airtight. If you’re dealing with an older wine that has probably “thrown” sediment, you will want to stand the bottle upright for a few days prior to opening it to allow the sediment to sink to the bottom of the bottle, then decant carefully to remove the sediment.
Storage of red wines is a question for which you’ll get dozens of answers, but the general consensus seems to be that red wine is best stored at a temperature between 45 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity is also a minor factor, and shouldn’t be lower than 50% to reduce the risk of the cork drying and cracking.
Your own cellar
Heat and light are the most detrimental factors to wines. So keep that in mind while building your cellar. For starters, a dark corner of the garage would be just fine. If you’re looking to spend a little bit more, there are a few companies who have closet conversion kits, complete with wall and ceiling liners, racking, and a temperature/humidity control unit. More expensive, but it doesn’t require any extra construction. Whatever you decide, just keep in mind that your wine will do best in a cool and dark place. |
