How to store wine

Video: Wine Storage for Beginners: 7 Easy Tips from a Professional

Content

Method 2 of 3: How to store wine for a long time
Method 3 of 3: How to store an open bottle
Tips
Warnings

1 Drink inexpensive, light wines for several weeks. During production, some wines receive the designation "table wine". This means that such wine is ready to drink and should not be stored for many years. Light red and white wines fall into this category. Another indicator is traffic jam. If it is made of synthetic materials or simply screwed onto the neck of the bottle, then the wine should be drunk in a fairly short time.

Most of the wines sold in the store must be consumed within about five consecutive years.

2 Store white wine in the refrigerator. White table wines must be chilled, so a regular refrigerator is suitable for storage. Try to drink this wine within one to two months after purchase.

For short periods, the wine can be stored upright or on its side.

3 Store red wines in a cool bar cabinet. If you are going to drink wine within a month, then you can even leave it on the table, as long as you do not get direct sunlight on the bottle. Otherwise, put the wine in the cabinet under the table.

This option is not suitable if the temperature in the house often rises above 25 ° C. In this case, it is better to choose a cooler place or even put the wine in the refrigerator.

Method 2 of 3: How to store wine for a long time

1 Find out which wines are good for long-term storage. The distillery will always tell you which wines are intended for long-term storage and which should be consumed in the near future. You can also ask a sommelier in a liquor store with a similar question, but usually such wines have a natural cork and are more expensive.
- In some cases, it is possible to buy wine at auction or purchase wine "futures" from distilleries (buy wine at a discounted price before production).
- High quality wines that are suitable for long-term storage are usually produced in regions like Tuscany (Italy), Piedmont (Italy), Napa Valley (USA), Priorat (Spain), Rioja (Spain), Burgundy (France) and Bordeaux (France).
2 Choose a dark place away from the air conditioner and washing machine. In most cases, a cool, dark pantry is ideal if you don't have a wine cellar. Direct light, especially sunlight, can adversely affect wine. Vibration is also contraindicated for wine, so keep it away from vibrating devices.
- If it is impossible to completely cut off the light, then wrap the bottle in a cloth or hide it in a box.
3 Store bottles on their side. The cork can dry out and oxidize your purchased wine. Storing the bottles on their side can prevent the problem, as this will moisten the cork.
- This is only important if you plan to store your wine for at least ten years. However, the side storage option also saves space.
- Arrange the bottles so that you don't have to move other bottles to get to a specific wine. Try to disturb each bottle as little as possible.
4 Use a thermometer to maintain a constant temperature of 13 ° C. The most ideal solution would be to store the wine in an underground cellar, but keep an eye on the temperature in the summer to keep the indoor air cool enough. In this case, temperature consistency is even more important. It is better to store wine in a place with temperature fluctuations from 20 to 23 ° C than from 8 to 17 ° C, otherwise, as a result of such changes, the wine can push out the cork, and air can penetrate the bottle.
- Wine should not be left at temperatures above 24 ° C for longer than a very short period. At this temperature, the drink begins to oxidize.
- If the temperature drops below 7 ° C, the aging process will slow down. If the wine begins to freeze, the expanding liquid can push out the cork and ruin the bottle.
- If you cannot find a cool enough place, use a special cooler.
5 Use a humidifier to keep the humidity at 50–70% in dry areas. As a rule, in most cases, you can do without a humidifier. It is important, however, to check the humidity in the storage location with a hygrometer and to ensure that the value remains within the specified range.
- This is extremely important if you have been storing wine for more than 10 years. If the humidity is too low, the cork can dry out over time. If necessary, place a container with water or even a device for cooling and humidifying the air in the room.
- At humidity above 80%, mold can develop. If you need to lower the humidity, you can use a dehumidifier.
6 Buy a simple floor-standing wine cooler. If you are going to keep certain bottles for a long time, then a special refrigerator will be the best solution. They are able to maintain a constant temperature and humidity, which will allow the wine to be stored for a long time.
- The refrigerator fits under the table and does not take up much space, and also protects the wine from direct light.
7 Store your most expensive wines in a dedicated wine cabinet. If you have bought expensive wine and are worried about how to store it for a long time, then it is best to deposit the bottles in a wine cabinet at your local store or winery. This will keep your wine at the optimum temperature and humidity.
- This option is suitable if you plan to store wine for more than 15 years.

Method 3 of 3: How to store an open bottle

1 Cork the bottle and refrigerate for a short time. This is the easiest way to store leftover wine, but if so, it will go bad in about a day. Always insert the colored side of the cork into the bottle, as this will no longer add new flavors to the wine. If the bottle has a screw cap, screw the bottle back on.
- A regular wine stopper, which can be purchased at most stores, will also work.
- The wine will last 3-5 days, but the aroma of the drink will change the very next day.
2 Pour leftover wine into a smaller bottle to reduce exposure to air and prolong storage. It is the air that spoils the wine, so reduce the amount of air that is exposed to the wine to slightly extend its shelf life. Use a watering can and close the wine with a special stopper or screw cap. Transfer wine to a smaller bottle immediately after opening to shorten exposure time.
- Don't forget to put the wine in the refrigerator.
- This method will keep the scent one day longer for a total of two days.
3 Use a vacuum corkscrew to protect the wine from exposure to air. These corkscrews are equipped with a needle that allows you to extract the wine from the bottle through the cork, and argon gas is pumped back into the bottle instead of the wine. After removing the needle, the stopper will seal again and the bottle will remain closed.
- This will keep the wine fresh for much longer, but it should still be drunk a few weeks in advance. In this case, it is not necessary to put the remaining wine in the refrigerator.
4 Use other storage devices such as vacuum and inflatable plugs. Such devices limit exposure to air and allow the wine to retain its properties for up to 3-5 days. To use a vacuum stopper, simply slide the fixture onto the bottle and then install the stopper using a pump.
- In the case of a conventional vacuum stopper, insert it into the neck of the bottle and seal with a hand pump.
- Put the wine in the refrigerator.

Tips

If you threw away the cork, but want to keep the leftover wine, close the neck of the bottle with plastic wrap and secure it tightly to the neck with an elastic band.
If the wine has stood open for more than two days, it will still remain usable, the taste of the drink will simply change. Use this wine for cooking.
If you want to produce and sell your own wine, then you need a wine cellar.