The 4 Things You Need To Do to Successfully Store Wine at Home
So you've been given a couple of great bottles of wine and you're thinking you'd like to age them for a while. Now what?
by Erin
How to cellar wine for the long term is one of the most commonly asked questions we get at our virtual and in-person events.
My first response is always, do you even like older wines?
Wine, as it ages, loses the fresh, upfront fruit it has in youth, and starts to develop notes of leather, roasted nuts, soy sauce, and dried fruit. Some wine enthusiasts love that tertiary character, but not everyone. You have to decide where your tastes lie – and there's no harm on either end.
Adding a bit of complexity to this thorny issue, is your tastes will also change over time. Your favourite food as a child likely isn't your favourite food now. Similarly, what you enjoy 30 years from now will probably be different from the flavours you find appealing today.
And finally, know that not all wines can – or should – age. Lots of very popular wines on the market are here for a good time, not a long time. Think of wines like Sauvignon Blanc, rosé, Pinot Grigio, or simple Côtes du Rhône or inexpensive Cabernet. They are generally not meant to cellar, but that doesn't mean they can't offer enjoyment now.
However, if you are keen to start a collection, here are some pointers to guide you to wine storage success.
Temperature
Have you ever visited a winery that kept its barrel cellar on the second floor? Didn’t think so.
There’s a very good reason wineries age their wines underground: it's naturally cool (not cold), dark, and humid (more on these points in a second).
Heat can really speed up the life of a wine, and in extreme cases even cook it – leaving the wine’s flavours flat and dull.
Ideally, you would want your cellar temperature to be somewhere around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, give or take, to allow bottles to age at the desired slow-and-steady pace.
Light
The next enemy to wine is light – which is why most wine bottles are dark.
The sun’s UV rays can fry a wine, prematurely aging it – just like humans. Do your wine a favour and give it the sunblock it craves: in the dark, away from windows.
Humidity
Underground temperatures of winery cellars have the right natural humidity: somewhere in the ballpark of 70%.
The slight dampness in the air helps corks from drying out. Therefore, damaging air can't get into the bottle nor can wine from seep out. (Although, I’ve come across a few bottles in my time that have suffered this dastardly affliction but were still drinking quite well. Wine seepage is not a sure sign that the wine has gone off.)
However, be warned, full-on humidity is not great, either. It can cause corks and labels to mold.
Vibration
Smooth and steady, kids. Despite what you have seen at bachelorettes, wine bottles do not like to dance.
Shaking disrupts the sediment that may have accumulated in the base of your red wines, sending it swirling through the bottle. This grit isn't harmful, but it's not pleasant, and now you have to give it another few days to settle down. And there is nothing celebratory about waiting for your wine.
Wine Storage Options
So if you can’t store your wine decoratively on top of your fridge, where can you store it?
Back in the day, The Wine Sisters offered cellar management (we don’t anymore). We helped organize and consult on many home cellars that were bigger than my entire condo. Going that route is beaucoup dollars, but certainly a show-stopper if you have the budget and the space.
For bottles I'm planning to open within the next one-to-three months, I keep them on a shelf in a windowless room. For my mid- and long-term cellaring I have a temperature and humidity controlled wine fridge and it works perfectly fine for my needs. There are bazillions of versions available, from a couple hundred bucks to several thousand. What fits your space, budget, and wine collection is up to you.
If you have a house with an unfinished basement, that’s your ticket to Easy Wine Storage Street. Similar to a winery cellar, your basement is underground, dark, and just the right soupçon of humidity. And if your space is creepy enough, it’s likely left alone from visitors so pesky vibrations will not be a problem. I recommend you grab some shelving from your favourite home building store, and put it in an unused corner away from windows and heat – and enjoy the fruits of your labour for many years to come.