Wine Storage 101

No longer is wine collecting reserved for the upper class. The love of wines and the quest to develop an in-home collection is fast becoming a popular hobby for many adults. Wine is a unique food product, in that most vintages improve in flavor, color and value over time - if stored properly. Since wine collecting can be an expensive hobby, it's important for the beginning collector to understand the basics of wine storage.

Once you acquire a number of bottles, it's time to start looking at the wine storage racks, units and systems that are available on the market. One of the benefits of many wine storage systems is that they can grow as the collection grows. There are wine storage units to match any decor and price point. It's a great idea to look through the wine storage systems presented on this website and take note of the ones that you think would look best in your home.

After you have selected the type of wine storage units that you prefer, it's time to take a tour of your home to determine where the best wine storage site will be. The last thing you will want to have to do is to move your collection and wine storage units once they've been set up. Not only is that a lot of unnecessary work, it is not advisable to continually move the wine.

Optimum Conditions for Wine Storage
Choose a spot in your home that is cool, dry, has low light and is free from heavy vibrations. Experts believe that optimum wine storage temperatures are between 55 F and 65 F, but that consistency is equally important. A slow gradual change in temperatures between seasons is acceptable. It is sudden changes that are a concern for wine collectors. Your wine storage units will want to be placed in a spot in your home where the temperature will remain as constant as possible throughout the year. Wine is a living organism and it expands and constricts depending on its temperature. As wine gets warmer, it expands and pressure is put upon the cork. When it cools, it constricts and the cork is pulled into the bottle. In some cases those changes may cause the cork to loosen up and oxygen will enter the bottle, ruining the wine.

Your wine storage units should be placed in an area with steady humidity levels as well. Avoid placing the wine storage racks where humidity levels are over 80 percent, which can cause the wine to mold. Too little humidity is also undesirable as those conditions can cause evaporation of the wine and harm the cork's seal.

Light is another important consideration. Place your wine storage system in a spot that has low lighting. Incandescent lights are the best. Avoid ultraviolet lights, which have been known to adversely affect the taste of the wine, even though the glass of most bottles has been made with a filter.

Never place your wine storage racks anywhere near pumps, furnaces, equipment or appliances that might cause vibrations. Excessive vibrations can loosen the corks, allowing oxygen to enter the bottle. Never place wine storage units near chemicals as smells can penetrate the corks and spoil the wine. Choose a well ventilated area for wine storage systems.

Wine Storage Systems
Wine storage units enable you to have good wine at your fingertips. Since no two storage areas are alike, we recommend that you look into purchasing one of the many modular wine storage systems on the market today. You can start with basic wine storage racks for instance and then add to your system as your collection grows.

Wine storage systems should prevent you from moving several bottles in order to reach another bottle. The less you handle the wine, the better. Wine storage units enable you to store wines horizontally. This keeps the cork moist, which keeps the seal airtight. Store with the labels up, so that you can easily spot the bottle you want.

A bottle of wine that is stored properly will increase in complexity and varietal character as well as in value over time. Having a good solid wine storage system that have been carefully placed in your home will help you to grow your collection and enjoy the wonderful world of wine collecting.