As the holiday season winds down, many of us find ourselves with an abundance of gifted wine. While this is a delightful problem to have, it raises two important questions: How should we store our wine at home, and why does proper storage matter?
Light and heat can damage wine, rendering it undrinkable in as little as three hours. Heat damage can significantly impact wine quality through various mechanisms, including physical and chemical changes, that can cause the wine to have off flavors and aromas resembling stewed fruit, vinegar or cooked prunes. This damage can start at temperatures as low as 70 degrees.
Sunlight can significantly damage wine, primarily due to its ultraviolet (UV) rays. The phenomenon known as “light strike” can happen quickly, with clear bottles taking only three hours of sun exposure to show damage. Light-struck wines develop off flavors described as “rotten egg,” “cooked cabbage” or “wet dog.”
Contrary to popular belief, most wines aren’t meant for long-term aging. The image of dusty, centuries-old bottles being brought up from a cellar can apply to only about 1 percent of the world’s finest wines. In reality, most red wines are best consumed within three to five years, while white wines peak at one to three years. That isn’t a long time—and to ensure wine stays good for even this short amount of time, you have to store it correctly.
You should store your wine in a cool, dark location away from sunlight and heat sources. This location should maintain a consistent temperature around 55 degrees and have a humidity level between 60 and 68% to prevent cork-drying. Ideally, the bottles should be placed on their side to keep the corks moist. The perfect place for this is a cave or wine cellar. Unfortunately, most of us do not have either of these—so what are our options?
If you have a large budget and are a serious wine-drinker, nothing beats a custom-built, temperature-controlled wine cellar. (While they’re called cellars, few of them are actually underground here in Reno.) Most are well-insulated rooms with dedicated cooling units to maintain the proper humidity and temperature. With one of these in your home, you can collect a lot of wine, protect your investment and impress your friends.
Of course, most of us don’t have the money to construct a new room; wine refrigerators are much more affordable. Small 12- to 24-bottle units can be purchased for $200 or less. Units storing more than 80 bottles run $1,000 or more, and if you need to store more expensive bottles, you can spend in excess of $10,000 for a luxury unit. Wine refrigerators will keep your wine at a consistent temperature, but only the more expensive units provide humidity.
In our climate, a great option is using an off-site wine-storage location—essentially, humidity- and climate-controlled self-storage units for wine. Smaller sizes that will allow you to store a few cases of wine can cost around $20 per month, while walk-in units for hundreds of bottles can cost hundreds of dollars a month. Some of these facilities include additional amenities and benefits like private event areas or a private wine tasting lounge.
As attractive as these previous options are, most people keep just a few bottles of wine at home. You can always store a few bottles in your regular refrigerator. This will keep them at a consistent temperature, helping to keep the wine drinkable. A word of caution: Corks can dry out after a couple of months.
If you keep too much food in your refrigerator to store your wine there, find a place where the temperature changes the least, like locations under stairs and closets located on interior walls. To help further moderate the changes, you can place your wine in a cooler. Even a little extra insulation can help.
By understanding the importance of proper wine storage and choosing a method that fits your needs and budget, you can ensure that the bottles you open—be they casual, weeknight pours or special-occasion vintages—taste delightful as intended.
Here’s to preserving those holiday wine gifts for future enjoyment!
