Wine Storage is the Key to Preserving and Aging your Wine

Wine storage is key to the success of any collection.  If you enjoy collecting find wines then you will want to look into the best of all wine storage options.  There are many different ways to store your wine but no matter which wine storage solution you choose you will need to keep the conditions constant.

The temperature of any wine storage space needs to be at a constant 50-60 degrees.  There should also be plenty of ventilation of the area and this wine storage should be far away from the main area of the house.  You do not want to have your wine collection suffering due to too much vibration and you need to keep any source of light to a minimum.  No sunlight should be permitted into the wine storage area.

You can use a wine cellar for your wine storage or you can have a special cooler.  Wine racks are a necessary part of your wine storage.  The wine racks can be made of metal or wood and the wine storage that you choose will be a matter of personal taste.  Both of these sorts of racks are wonderful to look at but the metal racks tend to be more flamboyant and stylish while the wood racks are classic and traditional in style.

You may want to choose your racks in order to have them match the rest of your wine storage solution.  The final choices that you make will be affected somewhat by whether or not you are planning to show off your wine cellar to your friends.  If you are then your wine storage solutions will need to be a little more coordinated.

So look into the wine racks and other wine storage options that will all look well together.  Your wine storage area can look like those of a professional wine collector.  It is not hard to do but it can cost you a little money.

Your temporary wine storage options are a little simpler.  Just before you serve your wine you will probably want to chill it, this of course depends on the wine.  In order to store your wine for chilling you can look into cool wine storage solutions.  Wine coolers are easy to find, you can find them in many department stores or wine stores.  Even the Internet is a great source for finding these types of wine storage options.

The Ideal Wine Cellar: Everything You Need to Get Started

So you've decided to take a large step, and move from wine lover to wine connoisseur.  You are going to buy a wine cellar.  This guide will give you all the information you need to make this purchase.

Wine Bottle Storage

The ideal location for storing wine is a dark, draftless area that stays at a constant 50-60 degrees, with 60-70 percent humidity.  The bottles should be kept on their sides to keep the corks moist, and should be exposed to limited vibrations.  This will ensure that you will be able to keep bottles at their best for years to come.

One thing to consider if you decide to purchase a large wine cellar:  make sure the unit will fit!  This sounds obvious, but many times stand-alone wine cellars are much wider than a standard door.  Another thing to think about is weight.  Consider not only the weight of the storage unit, but be sure to calculate 3 pounds each for a standard bottle of wine.  You might not want to store your wine upstairs.  This is another reason that wine is typically stored in a cellar.

Types of Wine Cellars

If you are lucky enough to live in a house, maybe you can use the existing cellar or a spare room, or have one built.  Just be sure not to skimp on building materials -- it would be silly to have 400 bottles of wine crashing to the floor because you wanted to save a few bucks on thinner wood.  Also, be sure the condensation will be able to evaporate;  otherwise, the humidity will increase beyond ideal levels.  Consider the cellar as an investment.

If you don't have a large amount of space, you can buy a freestanding wine cellar.  While not actually a cellar in the traditional sense, these are large units that can be stored in a house or apartment.  They are available commercially for a wide variety of prices.  Always consider where you are going to be storing the wine.  If it will be kept in your home, you will not need to have as much insulation or as strong of a cooling unit, but a unit kept in the garage will have to be much higher quality.

Building Your Own Wine Cellar

The best location for the cellar is below the level of the house.  If your basement has outside walls, keep in mind that north-facing walls will get the least amount of light.  Some smaller crawl spaces may not work very well if they experience extreme changes in temperature.  The same goes for a garage.  The first floor of the house can also be used, and as long as the house stays at a fairly constant room temperature, the cooling unit will not have to work too hard.

Framing

The first step in building a wine cellar is the framing.  The outer walls of the basement or room should be framed with 2" by 6" wood studs.  If the floors are cold, use 2" by 4" studs.

Insulation

The next step in the creation of a wine cellar is insulation.  The room needs to be kept at the most constant temperature possible.  The best type to use is sprayed 2 pound polyurethane, although less expensive methods can used, especially if the cellar is on the first floor of the house.  Once again, consider the cellar to be an investment.

Doors

Don't forget about the door!  It needs to have weather stripping and also be insulated.  Otherwise all the work done to insulate the walls will be wasted.

Drywall

To finish the walls, use a drywall that is resistant to moisture.  Other wall material can be used, but make sure that it will not soak up moisture and that it will not impart an odor on the wine.

Racks

Don't leave the design of the racks until the end.  Start first with this design to make sure that you have enough space for the number of bottles you'd like to store.  A good place to start would be to look at the smaller racks available at your local wine store.  These will give you ideas on the design you would like.  Once again, make sure the construction is sturdy enough for the weight of the wine.

Temperature and Humidity and Wine

As mentioned before, the ideal temperature for wine is between 50 and 60 degrees.  If the temperature is too high, it will spoil quickly.  If it is too low, it will not age properly.  If the temperature changes often, the cork will expand and contract.  This may lead to air getting into the wine.  Keeping this in mind, never buy wine chilled at a store, as you have no idea how long it has been that way.  Also, don't keep wine in your own refrigerator for more than 1 or 2 days.

Humidity can also damage wine.  If the humidity is too low, the cork can dry out.  While a tipped bottle will keep one side moist, the rest of the cork can become cracked and brittle.

Also, ensure the wine will be kept in a dark place, away from vibrations.  Colored bottles help keep the light out to some extent, but don't rely on the bottle to keep the light out.  Movement may cause the bottles to shift.  Wine needs to stay in contact with the cork so it will not dry out and crack, so limit the movement the bottles are exposed to.

Wine Cellar Cooling Units

After you cellar is complete, you can purchase a commercial wine cooling unit.  Many of these work similarly to a window AC unit.  They vent through a wall rather than being installed in the ceiling.  However, if you are below ground or for some other reason cannot use a window unit, there are commercial units that can be installed.  These are slightly more costly, but work well in those situations.

Every wine has an ideal aging time.  If your wine cellar is built properly, it will keep your wine for years to come.

Secrets to Becoming a Wine Connoisseur

Wine is a broad term that refers to the fermentation of plant matter for the purpose of producing an alcoholic beverage.  Of course, most people think of grapes as the basis for wine, but other sources include rice (sake), various fruits (elderberry, grapefruit, cherry, etc.), barley, and even honey (mead).

For the purposes of this short explanation, we'll stick with wines made from grapes.  These are categorized several ways, including by vinification methods, taste, and vintage.  Many casual drinkers pay little attention to the differences in these categories.  After all, for most folks the sole consideration is good taste.  However, for many aficionados wine is serious business.  The variety, taste, and vintage must all meet high expectations before serious collectors will consider owning a bottle.

Vinification

Vinification simply means the method by which grape juice is fermented into wine.  The practices followed during fermentation are what determine the type of wine you end up being able to purchase.  A common misunderstanding by the average drinker is that grape juice colors vary, which is what produces red, white, or rose wines.  Actually, all grapes produce clear (or very close to clear) juices.  What creates the color of the wine you buy is whether the grape skins have been left in contact with the juice during the fermentation process.  Red wines have been fermented thusly;  whites have not fermented in contact with grape skins;  rose is a combination of the two.

Sparkling wines, such as champagne, have bubbly characteristics that are caused by the addition of carbon dioxide.  This effect is achieved by fermenting the grape juice two times.  The first time, the juice is fermented in open containers, which allow the carbon dioxide to escape.  During the second fermentation, the juice is kept in closed containers, trapping and infusing the gases.

Taste

Most wines are described as dry, off-dry, fruity, or sweet.  Technically, this refers to the amount of sugars left over after fermentation is completed.  Dry has a tiny amount of residual sugar content, while sweet has high sugar content.

Beyond this basic taste classification, wine-tasting experts have developed a system of classifying wines by the more in-depth tastes and aromas they exude.  Many outsiders find this a somewhat bewildering system, but tasting pros consider the ability to discern subtle elements of a wines taste to be a badge of honor.  As one example, Cabernet Sauvignon is a popular variety that wine tasters claim contains a combination of black currants, chocolate, mint, and tobacco flavors.

Vintage

Vintage is a straightforward classification.  It refers to the year of the grapes harvest from which a bottle of wine was made.  This is important because many grape growers have exceptionally good harvests only during certain years.  Also, the best grapes are usually singled out for use in a producers vintage bottles.  You get the highest quality wine from that year’s harvest.