WINE BASICS ~ Tips For Storage

You need not spend thousands of dollars on a wine cellar unless you’re looking for a custom look. Wines need an environment that is cool and free from sunlight. They also need to be placed on their side.

Two keys to storing wines in a proper environment are temperature and humidity. Temperature is by far the most important of the two factors. The ‘traditional’ temperature for wine is 55 degrees. Wine should normally be stored between 50-60 degrees F. A colder temperature causes the aging process to slow down, preventing the wine from aging properly. A higher warmer temperature causes it to age to quickly. The humidity range should be between 60-70%. The primary reason to watch the humidity level is because high humidity hurts the wine label, resulting in lower resale value. Secondly, when wine is stored upright the cork begins to dry out and shrink. In time, air may slip between the cork and neck resulting in a wine needing to be poured out. Keeping wine on its side keeps the cork moist.

As a general guideline, whites do not age for long, they are to be enjoyed relatively young, while reds can age 5 -30 years.