Irrespective of what you drink is, white, red, pink or sparkling, storing your wine properly is crucial.
Simply putting your fave bottle above the refrigerator and forgetting about it for a year could significantly change the taste, then, when you come to like it at that big day, it may not be as favourable as you hoped. Step one : How long are you storing your wine for? The 1st call to make is how long you are planning to store your wine for. Often short term storage means three to six months and will be your cheaper, less cherished wines, where as long term can imply decades and is going to be reserved for your quality, dear wines. Step 2 : Correct storage conditions Whether it's long or short term storage the same rules apply, firstly and most crucially the bottles should be laid horizontally rather than upright, this guarantees the cork remains wet, to stop it drying out. It is crucial to keep the wines in a vibration free environment so they can not move about, thus on top of electric appliances or a place subject to external forces ( i.e. From a train ) must be avoided.
In addition light can adversely effect on a wine, which explains why some wine bottles are made from colored glass. Wine must be kept out of direct sun light, since too much light can react with proteins in wine, forming a haze and bad smells to pollute its' flavor. For long term storage, the correct atmospheric conditions are needed. Also when storing long term, consider the wines environment, guarantee there aren't any other foods or liquids that might be soaked up into the wine itself. Substances with robust smells as an example fuel or vinegar must be kept elsewhere! Step three : Enjoy When the time's right to pop the cork and savour all of your difficult work, drink responsibly but do attempt to finish bottles within just a few days of opening, since as fast as the wine is exposed to air it starts mixing with oxygen. This is regarded as oxidation, which also changes the essence of the wine. Correct wine storage is basic for any significant wine lover, fan or even hobbyist.
Glen James
