Wine Cellars: 3 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Collection

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Several years ago, my wife and I began collecting wine from our U.S. wine trails adventures. At first, we used our basement to store the wine, graduating to a handsome wine rack a few years later. Only after a few bottles didn’t meet our taste expectations did we learn the importance of proper wine storage.

A few years ago at a dinner party, we served a bottle of wine from one of our favorite New Mexico wineries, regaling our friends with how much we enjoyed it at the tasting room. To our disappoinment, the wine tasted well below expectations when opened and served. Only later did we learn that we’d stored the wine improperly, which accounted for the off taste.

Humidity Level Is Important

While I hate humidity, a stored bottle of wine requires moderately high humidity to maintain its taste. We stored our wine in a very dry area of our home, which accounted for the uneven taste of the bottle of white we served our guests. If you’re storing wine, aim for 50% to 70% humidity levels. Wine cellars have humidity controls built in, so if a wine cellar is your storage choice, you’ll be fine.

Hot And Cold

You’ll also want to be careful about temperature levels which will affect your wine’s taste. Store wine at 55 to 57 degrees. Both excess heat and cold are enemies to wine. If you own or are considering a wine cellar, look for a model that has specific temperature controls and air circulating fans to maintain ideal conditions.

Excess Light

Exposure to too much light can also negatively affect a wine’s taste. Even if a bottle is dark colored, keep it out of the sun, as UV rays can hurt wine and increase bottle temperature. Your wine storage area should contain minimal light, especially if you’re storing wine in clear bottles.

A Few More Tips

If possible, keep your stored wine away from heavy traffic areas in your home, so as to eliminate vibration. Excessive vibration will tamper with wine’s taste. Even when transporting your wine home in a car, keep it inside the vehicle and not the trunk. Temperature and vibrations in the trunk are detrimental to your wines.

The keys to proper wine storage are optimal temperature, humidity, and low light conditions. As you become more interested in wine, you’ll find that attention to these details will enhance the wine’s taste and your ultimate enjoyment of your purchase. Cheers!

Jim Hofman is an author specializing in wine travel and the enjoyment of wine. For more practical tips on wine storage solutions, be sure to visit Jim’s recommended resource site devoted to wine accessories and wine cellars.

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MLA Style Citation:
Hofman, Jim "Wine Cellars: 3 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Collection." Wine Cellars: 3 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Collection. 8 Feb. 2010. uberarticles.com. 10 Feb 2012 <http://uberarticles.com/miscellaneous/wine-cellars-3-mistakes-that-can-ruin-your-collection/>.

APA Style Citation:
Hofman, J (2010, February 8). Wine Cellars: 3 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Collection. Retrieved February 10, 2012, from http://uberarticles.com/miscellaneous/wine-cellars-3-mistakes-that-can-ruin-your-collection/

Chicago Style Citation:
Hofman, Jim "Wine Cellars: 3 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Collection" uberarticles.com. http://uberarticles.com/miscellaneous/wine-cellars-3-mistakes-that-can-ruin-your-collection/

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