Letting a delicious wine bottle go to waste just because you lack knowledge of how it should be stored is the worst thing you can do. Wine is a delicate drink that must be properly handled to retain its quality and status. Wine can transform any kind of meal into a magnificent one and enhance the event's happiness. Nonetheless, learning the proper way to store wine is one of the ways to ensure that winetakers enjoy their full potential. Storing it wrongly can ruin its quality and flavor, wasting your money and disappointing you and your guests. This article will guide you on tips to store your wine in the right way to prevent it from going bad.
Choose the Right Location
All wine must be stored suitable whether it's opened or not, white, silver or black, at business or home. It is advisable to store wine in a cool and dark place since its taste can easily evaporate if burned by direct sun rays for some time. While most bottles are made of tinted glass to provide sunray protection, exposing them to light is still a risk. You should consider storing your wine in a dark place, like in your house basement, cabinet, or closet, to protect its quality and flavor. You can also invest in a wine cooler if you have the budget and space.
Keep It Cool and Stable
It is right to store wine in a fridge, but it is not a must. If you don't have a fridge in your home and want your wine to remain quality, just store it in a dark area. Ensure it is not close to a window or door to avoid direct sunlight, as it can deteriorate the quality and ruin the taste.
You can store your wine in a warmer room temperature if it is not opened. However, all opened wine bottles should be stored in wine refrigerators. Storing your opened wine below temperature and out of light is the best way to preserve it and keep it fresh. Refrigeration slows down the process of wine oxidation as molecules move very slowly.
Store Bottles Horizontally
A wine bottle is supposed to be stored horizontally to not only protect the wine but also save on space. Horizontal placement keeps your wine in contact with the cork to prevent air from entering inside. This prevents the cork from drying and shrinking, which can cause outside air to enter and spoil the wine. This arrangement is also space-conscious to organize and access your wine easily. The wine can be arranged horizontally in a wine rack, wine refrigerator, or wine cabinet, depending on your preference.
However, there are some wine bottles that allow wine to be stored vertically due to their features. Bottles with screw caps or rubber corks can be kept upright since it is hard to absorb outside air. Additionally, an opened wine bottle should be stored in an upright position to prevent pouring in case of improper sealing and reduce the surface area exposed to oxygen to slow down oxidation.
In conclusion, wine is delicate, and wrong storage can ruin its quality and taste. Set aside a special place in your home or business to store your wine. Ensure the wine is not placed in an area where the temperature fluctuates to avoid expansion and contraction. Unopened wine can be stored in warm room temperature, but opened bottles should be refrigerated. Store bottles horizontally unless they are opened or they have screw caps or rubber corks.
