Properly storing your wine is one of the easiest ways to extend a bottle's lifespan, and, you don't need a cellar to do it.
Most ready-for-market wine bottles are designed to be enjoyed soon after purchase. The goal of at-home wine storage is to preserve the flavor of a bottle for the one to three years it was intended to live on your shelf.
Rule 1: Red vs. White Wine Storage
Due to the chemical composition of different varieties of grapes, red and white wines have different shelf lifes. The differences in sulfur or acidity levels, as well as the amount of sugars and tannins present, can all affect optimal wine storage.
Wines that are higher in tannin and acidity, (typically red varities), tend to be better candidates for aging, and thus tend to store better. With a few exceptions, white wines usually don't last as long as reds, requiring cooler temperatures during storage.
Rule 2: Maintain a Consistent Temperature
It is generally reccomended to store white wines at 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit and red wines at 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit. There are different schools of thought on the proper temperature to store wine, however, the important thing to keep in mind is consistency.
Colder temperatures can cause a wine to 'fracture,' affecting the flavor and texture. Higher temperatures can result in a undesireable jammy or vinegary flavor.
Because of their consistent cool temperatures, below-ground storage and wine cellars were, and still are, a popular storage method for wine, especially before modern refrigeration techniues. Nowadays, for short-term storage, a simple fridge will do the trick. A wine fridge can help to keep your bottles at a more consistent temperature for longer periods of time, with designated shelves for optimal red and white storage.
Rule 3: Keep Wine in the Dark
Besides controlling for temperature, cellaring had the added benefit of keeping wine in the dark. UV rays can be especially damaging to a wine's chemical makeup, causing the release of sulfur and converting the alcohol into vinegar over time.
Rule 4: Position the Wine Appropriately
Most wines are bottled with cork, which expands or shrinks to preserve the contents of the bottle. A dried-out cork opens enough space for oxygen to enter the bottle, potentially contaminating the wine and accelerating oxidation.
To keep the cork sufficiently moist, you'll want to store your bottles horizontally, so that liquid is always in contact with the cork preventing it from drying out.
With one exception. If you’re storing a bottle of sparkling wine or champagne and plan to drink it within the month, store the bottle vertically. The pressure of the carbon dioxide bubbles inside the bottle creates a seal that prevents oxygen from entering through the cork and destabilizing the alcohol molecules. (For long-term storage, sparkling varieties and champagne should be stored on their side.)
Rule 5: Prevent Flavor Spoiling
There are many opinions as to how long wine lasts after being opened, but in general, it lasts as long as you find it enjoyable! Wine that has gone bad will taste vinegary, sour, or generally unpleasant.
White wine typically degrades faster than red and can be kept around for three to four days under refrigeration. Red wine can remain at room temperature in a corked bottle for up to five days.
The Bottom Line
There are several easy steps you can take to successfully store your wine at home and preserve its flavor. Keep your wine stored at a cool, consistent temperatures, away from light and in its optimal position (likely stored on its side).
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