Phillipe de Rothschild once noted, “Excellent wine generates enthusiasm.” The question becomes…and what makes an excellent wine? Well, volumes have been written (some even published) on that subject which we won’t try to cover here.
After spending a month in Italy and enjoying uncounted glasses of wine there, not to mention many additional ones, I have concluded that it really comes down to a matter of personal taste. In other words, which wine do you enjoy the most?
This can be easily discovered simply by tasting different wines. Whichever is your favorite, one thing that all wine specialists agree on is that the way wine is stored can either enhance and secure, or ruin even the best vintage wine. That particular wines should be aged to achieve optimum quality is considered common knowledge, and most folks realize that storing them properly is essential.
The Storage Basics
So how should I store my wine? Glad you asked. Temperature and humidity are the two main factors which govern proper wine storage. Most home temperatures are maintained at about 70° with relative humidity in the 20-30% range. While comfortable for you, these aren’t the best conditions for your wine.
Without getting too technical, oxygen is a very reactive gas and a high level of it is the single most damaging thing to wine. Oxygen enters stored bottles through the cork, a natural material, which can deteriorate over time and which these two factors affect the most.
Wine Cellar Temperature Range and Stability
Wine should be stored away from direct sunlight—hence the wine cellar—and at a temperature within the range of 52° to 58° Fahrenheit. While the actual temperature is important, the stability of that temperature is considered the “holy grail” of wine storage.
Fluctuations in temperature of only 3° can be very damaging if they occur on a daily basis. Remember that cork? Temperature changes, say, from day to night and back to day, cause the wine to expand as it warms forcing the cork to move or air to seep out. As the wine cools, it contracts and draws outside air/oxygen into the bottle, damaging your wine. If you think the temperature in your storage space doesn’t fluctuate much, you may be surprised. Testing your wine storage space with a remote monitoring system can be enlightening.
Humidity & Ventilation
Back to our friend, the cork. The relative humidity level in your wine storage space should range between 50% – 70%. Even when bottles are stored on their side, corks will dry out if the humidity level is too low. Too high, and you risk mold or mildew growth damaging your labels as well as corks.
Most people don’t think about odors in their wine storage areas, but since some tiny amounts of air will always get back into the wine through the cork, odors can sneak in with it, VOC’s being particularly harmful.
Temperature & Humidity Monitoring and Control
Keeping tabs on your storage space can be aided by the use of a thermo-hygrometer with an alert system. A wireless monitor with Wi-Fi and app control is very convenient, so you can receive alerts if there are significant changes of temperature or humidity in your wine cellar.
If dry conditions are an issue for you, a cool-mist, ultrasonic humidifier is a great help in achieving optimum humidity levels for your wine.
If your wine is stored in a space with unavoidable odors, an air purifier run on a low setting to minimize vibration can be a wine-saver in this situation.
If your problem is dampness, a small residential dehumidifier with a humidistat like this in-wall model will help keep too-moist conditions under control.
In Summary
How you store your wine has a direct effect on its quality, and correct wine storage is the key to preserving wine at its best. Careful monitoring of temperature, humidity, light exposure, and excess vibration will ensure your wine can be aged properly for enjoyment in years to come.
