VinoLoverIf you are passionate about wine, you have probably wondered how to preserve wine at home, without affecting its taste, quality, aroma and texture, right?
Well, I must tell you that it is easier than you think, however, you must consider several factors to prevent its quality from being affected, so in the following article we want to detail them so that you don’t miss anything.
Recommendations for storing a bottle of wine at home
Take into account the storage position of the bottles
Wine bottles that are still closed should be kept in a horizontal position. In this way, you will be able to maintain the cork’s humidity and prevent it from losing its elasticity and airtightness as it dries out. This causes the wine to be exposed to oxygen, and to adopt a vinegary taste.
However, if you are going to consume the wine a month after its purchase or before, you can store it in an upright position, without the risk of it losing its properties.
When it comes to sparkling wines, the bottles can be stored vertically, as the carbon dioxide gas that characterises them tends to rise and allows the cork to remain moist.
It is important to note that for wines that are bottled with screw or plastic stoppers, storage does not interfere with their quality, so you can store them at any angle, without the risk of losing quality.
Stable temperature
Temperature is one of the most important factors to consider when storing wine at home, as this will prevent it from losing its properties or being damaged.
There is no specific temperature for everyone, it depends on the type of wine. However, the most important thing is that the bottle is kept in an environment with a stable temperature, and that it ranges between 10ºC and 18ºC.
In the case of white or sparkling wines, the storage temperature can be lower.
The most advisable is to control the temperature of the room using a room thermometer, however, when it comes to storage at home, the important thing is to avoid drastic changes in temperature, just keeping it stable is enough.
Avoid storing them in places such as the kitchen, heating room or places with air conditioners, as these are places where temperature changes are prevalent.
Controlling humidity in the environment
Taking into account the humidity is fundamental for the conservation of a bottle of wine at home. It is recommended that the humidity of the space where you are going to store the bottles should be between 60% and 80%.
In environments with low humidity, the cork can dry out and oxidise the wine with the presence of oxygen, or if the space is very humid, fungus can proliferate.
If you do not know how to measure the humidity of the environment that will be used to store your wines, a hygrometer could be a very useful piece of equipment.
If you plan to have spaces such as cellars or storerooms for the storage of bottles, you can favour the environment by adding ventilation or air conditioning systems.
Dark and quiet environment
Lighting is another determining factor in the conservation of wines at home, as you should avoid direct exposure of light on the wine bottles, regardless of whether it is natural, artificial or fluorescent.
The direct incidence of light can contribute to the processes of chemical reactions in the wine, which alter its taste and acidity. For this reason, the colour green is used in supermarkets as it is capable of neutralising light radiation.
If it is impossible to keep the bottles completely away from light, we recommend that you place a cloth over them or store them in a box.
With regard to noise and vibrations, although it may seem unusual, they are also detrimental to the preservation of wine. So you should avoid storing them in places where there are strong and continuous vibrations that alter the sediments and prevent the ageing process in the bottle from being favourable.
Avoid strong smells
The space you choose for the storage of your wine bottles, apart from being dark and free of noise or vibrations, must have good ventilation and be free of strong odours, as these can filter through the cork and contaminate the wine.
Bear in mind storage times
Not all types of wines are made to improve their qualities over time, and for this reason it is important that you learn to distinguish which ones you can keep at home and that this does not affect their quality, and which ones you should consume in the coming months.
First of all, you should know the age of the wine, the vintage, the place of origin and the type of grape used to make it. In addition to the type of ageing and the place where it was stored before it reached your hands.
Important: remember that young wines should be consumed in the year they are harvested. In case you want to store crianza wines, it is advisable to consume them in the following 5 years and reserva and gran reserva wines up to 10 or 15 years later.
Do not exceed the consumption dates
It is important not to exceed the established time limits, as storage in places other than cellars does not allow this period to be extended, but on the contrary, you could find yourself with damaged or oxidised wines.
Even knowing all this information, you must consider that these time periods are estimates, so you must also evaluate the storage conditions of each bottle and the type of wine in question.
Is the way of preserving wine after opening the bottle the same?
Once you have opened a bottle of wine, the conditions change completely as it comes into contact with oxygen. So if you are not going to consume it in its entirety, it is better to put the bottle in the refrigerator.
Also, make sure that the cork seals the bottle hermetically and try not to consume it more than 3 or 5 days after opening.
Preserving wine at home does not require a great deal of experience in the subject, as by following these minimum recommendations you will be able to enjoy this beverage without minimising its benefits.
VinoLover
Claudio Comella
