Whether you are collection your own selection of wine or you have received a luxurious wine hamper with some fine bottles, you should always make sure that you store every bottle properly. This will help maintain the quality of the wine so that it is perfectly enjoyable when you decide to pop the cork. Here are some essential storage guidelines:
Temperature
Temperature is one of the most important factors to concern when preserving the quality of your wine. If you have a wine cellar, you should install a thermometer and thermostat in this room to control the temperature. The room should be cool but not too cold. Temperatures should not get higher than 18.3 degrees or lower than 7.2 degrees Celcius.
Humidity
If you want to keep the corks from drying out, you should maintain a humidity level of 70%. If the corks get too dry, they will become brittle and they will crumble when you try to open it. If the humidity levels are too high, you could end up with mould so make sure that you measure the humidity regularly.
Stability
While the temperatures can range between certain temperatures, this does not mean that you should allow them to fluctuate too much. The ideal temperature is abot 12.7 degrees. So, make sure that you set your temperature parameters accordingly.
Light
Light can take its toll on all things in this world and wine is no exception. Wine cellars are dark for a reason. This is because UV rays are known to age the wine prematurely. Light bulbs will not do much to age the wine but they do increase the temperature in the room and they cause the labels on the bottles to fade.
Sideways position
Many people store bottles of wine on their side for a number of reasons. Not only does it take up less space, but it’s also good for keeping the corks moist. If you have any bottles with corks that do not need to be hydrated (plastic corks) or screw top bottles, you can store them upright. Many people rotate their bottles from time to time. This is done very carefully so as not to disturb the sediment.
With all of these tips in mind, you can store various types of wine for years without worrying about them going bad. Remember, some wines get better with time but some bottles do not age well. If you are unsure, ask a local wine expert for their recommendations.