There is more to aging wine than mere patience and self-control. Here are a few facts about proper wine storage.
Many wines mature and improve with time. Like actress Monica Belluci, a wine may be a beauty today, but even more gorgeous ten years down the line. Pampering a wine, and giving it the best conditions, will improve the chances of it revealing the best it can.
Only with proper wine storage can a bottle of wine mature to its full potential. Red and white wine that can be aged, tends to come in a dark-tinted bottle. This is mainly to reduce the amount of UV penetration which can cause deterioration, while lighting may also effect temperature, causing unwanted fluctuations.
When storing wine it is important to keep the bottle lying down. The reason for this is to keep the cork moist. Cork tends to shrink when it dies up and would therefore allow air to enter the bottle, ruining the wine.
Ventilation is another important factor that is often overlooked. Mold growth, due to a lack of ventilation, can ruin precious labels and more importantly creates unpleasant odors that can be transmitted to the wine.
Wine storage requirements vary. Aging a collection of six bottles in a wooden box would require a completely different format that a variety of single bottles. Also, magnums and Champagne require different shelving. A wine cellar should be versatile, yet practical, and should also be aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Even with all the right equipment, the most important factor in wine aging is self-control. Not opening a bottle of wine prematurely requires self discipline, willpower and strength of mind, something that goes against the temptation to indulge.
If you want to do it the right way, storing wine is not simply a matter of keeping bottles locked away in a cupboard or placed in a cellar…and, in any case many wine lovers do not possess the appropriate space or conditions suitable for storing wine properly.
One has to make sure that the cabinets over everything you would expect from a natural cellar: constant temperature, controlled humidity, thermal insulation and UV protection and slow and permanent ventilation. There should also be a guard against vibration as movement is something which can also negatively impact wine in storage.
These days there are a lot of storage systems to choose from. Go for the best and if you don't have a cellar go for something that will also match with the rest of your house.
