Whether you’re an aged collector of wine or an amateur, proper storage of wine is vital. And since building a wine cellar can get quite expensive, don’t worry, you don’t need one. Sparkling wine, white wine and red wine all have different demands, but there are seven general rules of thumb you should keep in mind when storing your wine.
1. No Light: Sparkling wines and white wines are both very vulnerable to light and should be stored in dark areas with no sunlight and very minimal artificial light for flavor to develop. This tip applies to red wines as well.
2. Cool Temperature: The average storage temperature of wines should be about 50 to 60 degrees; any warmer and the wine will age too quickly, not allowed proper flavor to develop as it would at lower temperatures. If you have a small wine rack, sparkling wines should be placed on the lowest shelf with white wines above and red wines at the top, as sparkling wines require the coolest temperatures and red wines just a bit warmer..
3. Humidity: Proper humidity will keep the cork from drying out and shrinking and consequently letting in air. Humidity should be at about 60 to 70 percent.
4. Odor: Wine should never be stored near foods that cause odors or are capable of fermenting and rotting. These includes fruits, vegetables and cheeses. The odors form these foods will taint wine as it ages.
5. Posture: Store wine on its side, not standing up. This allows the wine to touch the cork, leaving no space for air to seep in and spoil the wine.
6. No Movement: Once stored, try not to move wine bottles around. Vibrations from even traffic or generators can have negative effects on wine including cracked bottles and not allowing the wine to settle.
7. Serving: When serving, sparkling and white wines should not be served under 45 degrees while red wines are enjoyed best at room temperature.
Keep these tips in mind and you will surely get the best taste out of your wine.