Wines You Should Drink Within 1 To 3 Years
Red Wine Gamay, Zweigelt, Primitivo, Dolcetto, Box Wine, Beaujolais, Lambrusco
White Wine Albarino, Assyrtiko, Cava, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Gruner Veltliner, Melon de Bourgogne, Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Gris, Prosecco, Dry Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Torrontes, Verdicchio, Vermentino, Viognier, Vinho Verde
Can I Store And Keep My Wine Inside The Refrigerator
While keeping wine inside the fridge may be a convenient solution, the refrigerator is not the ideal place for wine storage. The standard refrigerator in most households does not offer optimum temperature conditions for wines. At the most, you can only keep wine inside the fridge for two to three days.
Dont: Store Your Wine Upright For Long Term
For the same reason its recommended to store wine on its side is why it is not recommended to store it upright. When your bottle is upright, the wine is not hitting the cork. The cork will then begin to dry out, resulting in a musty, malodorous wine. With that said, it is okay to store your wine upright for a short amount of time, which is why many some convenient or liquor stores can get away with it they are banking on a timely sale of the bottles. I wouldnt recommend keeping bottles upright for more than a few weeks.
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Maintain The Right Temperature
Temperature is the most important factor that determines the quality of stored wine. Wines dont like high, very low or fluctuating temperatures as it results in loss of quality and character. Wine should ideally be stored between 10oC and 15oC, for which one needs a temperature-controlled cellar or wine cabinet. If that is not possible, one may store their bottles in cupboards or in spaces away from direct light and where there isnt much heat or humidity, says Sanket Gawand, the chief winemaker at Vallonné Vineyards.
A temperature-controlled environment is the key to proper wine storage
How To Store Wine For Long Term
Aging When it comes to storing wine, a lot of people use a simple bottle rack and keep the bottles in a dark, cool place. However, there are many other ways to store wine that will help you age your wine for longer periods of time.
Here are some tips on how to store wine for long term aging: The first thing that you need to do is figure out what kind of wine you want to age.
You should use a cork and not a screw top. Cork is the best option for wine. It will keep the wine fresh and good for a long time.
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You should also use an airtight container to store your wine. You should also make sure that the container is big enough to hold the amount of wine that you want to store. It is also a good idea to keep the wine away from light and heat.
You can use a cellar or a wine refrigerator. A cellar is a great idea. You can put the bottles in there and keep them at a temperature of 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Points To Remember After Wine Bottle Opening
Keep the bottle upright:
When you open a bottle of wine, keep it upright. This will prevent oxidation. Oxidation will change the taste of the wine. The longer you leave the wine open, the more oxidation will occur.
Keep it in a cool place:
If you want to keep your wine for a long time, store it in a cool place. Its best to store it in a refrigerator or a cellar.
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Store it in a dark place:
If you want to keep your wine for a short period of time, store it in a dark place.
Always use a corkscrew:
Always use a corkscrew when opening your wine. It will prevent you from damaging the cork. If you dont have a corkscrew, you can use a butter knife.
Use a wine opener:
If you dont have a corkscrew, use a wine opener. This will help you remove the cork and keep the wine fresh.
Keep it in a glass:
When youre storing wine in a bottle, make sure that its in a glass bottle.
Dont store it near the stove or in direct sunlight:
If youre going to be storing it for a long time, dont store it near the stove or in direct sunlight.
Label the bottles:
Place a label on the bottle that indicates what type of wine it is, the name of the wine, and the date of purchase. This will help prevent mistakes.
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Why Wine Storage Matters
Wine is highly susceptible to changes in its environment. This is true for those prized collectibles, as well as that budget bottle of Merlot you purchased from the grocery store.
Wine is a living and breathing thing that is constantly evolving and changing, says Wine Enthusiasts Chief Revenue and Education Officer . This is why caring for your bottles is so important, he continues. It can make the difference between a bold, fruity glass of Cabernet and, well, a bottle of lukewarm vinegar.
But before you learn how to properly store your bottles, its important to understand the elements that can wreck wine. Hop over to our piece on the five enemies of wine for all the deets, but heres a quick rundown to save you some time:
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Why Would I Want To Age My Wine
Wine is unique as a drink, because the best not only keep well for decades but become more desirable with age and building up a cellar for the future is one of the most satisfying things you can do. Many bottles will develop complex aromas and flavours, beautiful colour and an indescribable magic that can only be got from several years improving in a cellar. Age can tame the astringent tannins and full-on fruit of more aggressive reds and add beautiful buttery complexity to age-worthy whites.
Need help storing wine? We can help!
Evaluate The Wine That You Want To Put In Storage
Before you think about how to store wine, consider where to store wine. Ask yourself the following:
- What type of wine do you need to store? Is it fine wine?
- How much wine do you have and how long will you store it?
- Do you plan to keep it in your own home or a wine cellar?
- How will your wine display fit into your everyday life?
Once you plan to store a bottle of wine rather than consume it immediately, you need to pay attention to the proper temperature, light, and humidity guidelines.
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Learning More About Wine
Theres a whole lot more to wine than simply knowing how to store wine. If youre curious to learn more, wine tastings are a great place to start. During in-person and virtual wine tastings, world-class sommeliers and wine experts will help you understand the greater complexities underlying wine-making, covering everything from type of grape to the fermentation and aging process. Plus, if you leave the tasting with a few new bottles, youll know exactly how to store your new wines even after opening!
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Whether you prefer red, white or rosé, following these tips for how to store wine will help you enjoy every last sip of all your favorite blends without sacrificing any depth of flavor. Even if you find yourself needing to store half a bottle of open wine, youll know what to do!
For even more ways to learn about wine, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
How To Know When Wine Is Ready To Drink
There are many different factors that determine when wine is ready to drink. The first factor is the amount of alcohol in the wine.
If you are looking for a drink now type of wine, you should look for a wine with lower alcohol content. The second factor is the color of the wine. If the wine has a dark red color, it has a higher alcohol content and will be ready to drink sooner than a lighter colored wine.
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If you are using a wine opener, it should be opened about 10 minutes before you plan to drink it. If you are using a corkscrew, it should be opened about 30 minutes before you plan to drink it. If you are using a screw-cap bottle, it should be opened about 45 minutes before you plan to drink it.
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Invest In A Wine Preservation Device
With the right wine preservation system, you can sample, sip and store opened bottles with delicious impunity. There is a breadth of wine preservation systems that range from manual vacuum pumps that suck the air out of an opened bottle to high-performance wine preservation and service systems such as Coravin. Choose one that suits your budget, says Patil.
However, these do not work for sparkling wines. Sparkling wines contain carbon dioxide. Drawing out the air will cause the wine to lose its bubbles. Instead, use a sparkling wine stopper. They are inexpensive and can keep your bubbles going for up to five days. The rules for temperature and light remain the same as still wines, explains Patil.
Avoid Direct Sunlight And Find A Dry Dark Storage Space
Sunlight can cause sulfur-containing amino acids to oxidize, which in turn can change the flavor of the wine. Store your wines away from light, including direct sunlight and fluorescent fixtures. If your wine has a funny smell, ultraviolet rays have likely caused the wine to become lightstruck.
White wine that is stored in clear bottles is especially susceptible to direct sunlight because the glass offers less protection than darker bottles. Be aware that incandescent light can also impact the integrity of the wine.
The key takeaway should be to store your wine in a dark and dry place to preserve its great taste. If you cant keep a bottle entirely out of light, keep it inside of a box or wrapped lightly in cloth. If you opt for a cabinet to age your wine, be sure to select one with solid or UV-resistant doors.
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How Does Vibration Damage Wine
Now vibration isnt the biggest deal when it comes to wine storage especially with wines that are being stored short-term, but it is something you want to avoid with any wines youre hoping to save for years to come. Vibration will prevent sediment from settling in one spot. When you decant an old wine, you decant it to remove sediment. You cant do that if the wine has been shaken up and the sediment is floating all over the place. Sediment isnt bad for you, its like coffee grinds, harmless but the texture is off-putting.
Wines You Should Drink Within 3 To 5 Years
Red Wine New World Merlot, Barbera, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Garnacha, Monastrell, Negroamaro, Crianza Rioja, Cotes du Rhone
White WineAlsace White Wine, Arneis, Oaked Chardonnay, Oregon Chardonnay, Oaked S.A. Chenin Blanc, Garganega, New York Riesling, Semillon, Trebbiano, Oaked Sauvignon Blanc, Malvasia, Fiano
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Store Your Wine Professionally
All told, building a wine cellar from scratch will cost you anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000, minimum, not to mention the maintenance costs and time spent reorganizing your cellar whenever you add new bottles. This is why professional wine storage is usually the best option for many collectors.
Although the storage fees for some warehouses might seem high at first, they are typically more cost-effective than building a home cellar from scratch. For instance, Vinfolios storage usually costs less than 1.5 percent of the total value of your collection. Every bottle costs about $0.39 to store every month. If you have 100 bottles in professional storage, youll spend about $39 per month in storage fees. You would likely spend much more than this on wine cellar construction and maintenance. A small cellar with a 560 watt air conditioner would increase your electricity bill by as much as $70 every month, not including the $15,000 you spent building it from scratch.
Once youve decided to store your wine professionally, youll need to ship it to the warehouse. Full-service storage companies will receive your bottles on the other end, then inspect, inventory, and store them safely. Some warehouses offer white glove shipping for customers living in the area, which is the safest way to ship your bottles. Youll have your wine picked up by a van equipped with a cooling unit that will keep your wine at an ideal temperature throughout its journey.
How Should I Store And Age Wine
Hands up whos got a labyrinthine wine cellar with temperature-controlled conditions and a chrome-embellished Champagne fridge? Us neither. Luckily, those of us forced to store our best bottles in the cupboard under the stairs can still benefit from our top tips for storing wine, whether youve got a precious trove of treasures for ageing, or simply want to keep your anyday wines in great condition for spontaneous moments of wine-related joy.
Rosie Allen
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Store Your Wine According To Your Goal
Are you storing your wines for weeks, months, or years? Wines that are being stored for shorter amounts of time can be kept at the typical 55 degrees Fahrenheit, but for wines that warrant extensive cellaring you can opt for slightly lower temperatures.
“Humidity should always be above 50 percent but you can store at 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit if you want your wine to shut down for long-term storage,” says Strangis.
Conversely, storing wines at 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit will allow you to age wines a little quicker without causing them any harm this is useful for wines that you intend to open sooner than later.
Make Sure There Is Air Circulation
Another great tip for long-term wine storage is to ensure that the area in which your wine is being held has good air circulation. If you are using a wine cellar or wine fridge, this is easily accomplished by using a built-in fan.
This means that the owner wont have to worry about struggling with air circulation since the unit takes care of the problem for you. However, if you dont own a wine-specific unit, then you need to make sure the area has good air circulation on your own.
You may want to consider adding a small fan to the area. You want to make sure that the air circulation isnt causing the temperatures to change or go too low, though, because this can damage your wine.
Good air circulation is a critical part of long-term wine storage because it will keep mold from growing in your wine while also ensuring no intrusive odors affect the flavor of your wine.
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Storing Wine Is Possible Without A Cellar
Storing wine, whether for a few weeks or up to a year, is possible without a wine cellar, especially if your aim isnt to age wine. It takes a little effort and management, but youll save a ton of money avoiding a wine cellar bill.
Several options for wine coolers and wine fridges can make storing white and red wine a lot easier. Wine coolers create a stable temperature zone for your wine, which can be one of the most challenging things to regulate. Significantly cheaper than wine cellars, a dependable wine cooler or refrigerator ranges from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars.
What Happens To Wine After Opening
Once a bottle of wine is opened, it is a good idea to put it away right away. The reason for this is because wine that is stored in a cool place will not develop properly.
Also, if you are going to drink your wine at room temperature, then it is best to store your wine in a refrigerator. This way, your wine will stay fresh and tasty.
You should avoid storing wine in the sun, as this will cause your wine to lose its flavor. Also, dont store your wine in a warm place because this can cause your wine to ferment.
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Tally Up Your Wine Bottles
To decide what your best wine storage solution is, youll first need to count the number of bottles you currently have, and estimate how many bottles youll buy in the future. This is important because age-worthy bottles, like 50-year-old DRC, need enough space to rest on their sides for decades at a time. If you dont take this into account and end up having to store your bottles upright, their corks could dry out, which will cause the wine to spoil.
Start by counting the number of bottles you currently own, and then round up to the nearest 10. Next, estimate the number of bottles youll buy in the future using the equation below:
A = The average number of age-worthy bottles you plan on buying every year.
Y = The average number of years those age-worthy bottles will stay in storage before you drink or sell them.
N = The average number of young, drinkable wines you plan on buying every year.
Round this number to the nearest 10, then add it to the number of bottles you already have. From here, you can calculate how much space youll need using the estimates below:
Less than 500 bottles: Less than 25 square feet of space needed, with ceilings at least 9 feet high
500 bottles: At least 25 square feet needed, with ceilings at least 9 feet high
1,000 bottles: At least 50 square feet needed, with ceilings at least 9 feet high
More than 1,500 bottles: At least 100 square feet needed, with ceilings at least 9 feet high
