How to Store Wine
Ahh wine, one of life’s wonderful pleasures, though not when it hasn’t been stored correctly. Regardless of what type of wine you have in your collection, it must be stored safely and correctly. In this blog, we’re telling you how to store wine.
Wine storage
The most important factor when it comes to storing wine correctly is that you are able to maintain a consistent temperature. This is important for all wine types whether they’re red, white or even champagne. Fluctuation in temperature is the number 1 cause of wines being either spoiled or degraded.
Single temperature wine fridge
For long term storage, all wines should be kept at cellar temperature, which is 12/13 degrees Celsius. This allows young wines to mature and remain in their best condition. If you just want your wine to be kept at a long term storage temperature, you can use a single temperature controlled unit.
Some restaurant owners choose to use two single temperature controlled units, one for reds and one for whites. This allows both wine types to be kept at their optimum serving temperature, without fluctuation.
Dual temperature wine fridge
If you’d prefer the luxury of always having wine at its ready to serve temperature, then a dual temperature controlled unit would be perfect for you.
A dual temperature controlled wine fridge can be used effectively when reds are placed in one area and whites and champagnes are stored in another. Generally, the upper compartment can be used for whites, with a temperature of between 5-12 degrees Celsius. To get the most out of your wine, we would recommend serving at around 7 degrees Celsius.
For red wines, you can use the lower compartment, which can be set to between 12 and 18 degrees Celsius. We would recommend a serving temperature of 16 degrees Celsius.
All quality wine fridges will keep your wine at a constant temperature all year round, which will also assist the ageing process.
In the summer months, the cooling system will kick in, chilling the wine so it remains at the correct temperature. In the winter, the heater will kick in (check that your wine fridge is heated with a heating function), so that your wine does not spoil. This means that your wine storage can even be placed inside of a garage or non heated room.
How to store wine at home
Sure, you could store your wine around the house, in that old shelving unit or even in the fridge, but your wine is definitely not reaching its full potential. So why would you keep spending money without a long term wine storage method that allows your wine to taste even better?
We have an array of impressive wine storage solutions to fit anywhere in your home. Whether you’re after a wine fridge for the kitchen; a wine wall to spruce up the dining area or even a wine room for the ultimate wow factor – we’ve got you.
Questions? We’ll do our best to answer any enquiry you might have.
Wine Coolers
Our wine coolers come with beautifully bright LED lighting which really helps to create a relaxing atmosphere anywhere in your home. All lights are controlled at your fingertips with just the click of a button. You can even set the intensity as you wish or turn the lights off completely.
Stunning Oak Wine Walls
How many bottles are in your collection? Our stunning solid oak wine walls have a capacity of up to 414 bottles. Shelves slide in and out easily so that you can admire your whole collection.
360 degree collection
Our TECA wine cabinets are freestanding, which means you can have a 360 degree view of your impressive fine wines. The temperature is controlled uniquely through the spine of the wine fridge, keeping the temperature consistent throughout. This model comes with warm white, dimming lights controlled by a remote. You don’t need to worry about your wine cabinet not fitting in with the rest of your furniture, as you can personalise the colour of the frame to match the rest of your room.
Walk in wine room
For the ultimate wine collector, we have the perfect storage solution. Our walk in wine cellars range in size, storing between 900 and 4000 bottles of wine. Thanks to intuitive heating and cooling functions, this wine cellar can be installed anywhere in the home or garage, with no plumbing required. Carefully placed lighting, a beautiful glass door and oak shelving combine to create a modern, luxurious feel.
There’s no need to worry if you end up moving house, our walk-in wine rooms can be dismantled and assembled in your new home.
Each wine storage solution that we stock emits minimal noise, so you don’t need to worry about being disturbed during the day or evening. Wine coolers should also come with a UV protected glass door, to protect your wine from sun exposure, which can damage the bottles.
Each feature combined makes our wine storage options smart and luxurious. Your wine storage area will be the best part of your home.
Our tips on how to store wine
Store horizontally
The cork is very important when it comes to wine storage. By storing your wine bottles horizontally, you’ll be keeping the cork moist, which is key. A dried out cork can not only damage the flavours of your wine but also lead to crumbling which will definitely damage wine.
You may have a few bottles using a screw top in your wine collection, they’re usually fine to be stored in an upright position, but there’s no harm in keeping them stored horizontally either.
Monitor humidity
Horizontal bottles, a suitable temperature, humidity control, there’s lots to think about. If you want to store your wine bottles correctly, you’ll need to monitor the humidity levels. In the beginning, it may seem hard work but once you find the humidity sweet spot, you’re all good!
The ideal humidity level is between 50% and 70%. It’s important to get this right as it can have an impact on the quality of your wine. Storing wine in high humidity levels can cause damp and even mould growth.
When choosing the perfect location for your wine cooler, you’ll want to stay away from household appliances such as washing machines and dryers. These can emit high levels of heat which can lead to fluctuating humidity levels.
Keeping wine away from the light
Unlike most people, wine loves to be kept in the dark. Wine does not like sunlight, which can damage the wine over a period of time. Most wine fridges are equipped with glass doors, so you can see the bottles, turning the wine fridge into a piece of furniture, rather than just a big black box. Make sure that the glass door is UV protected, to ensure the longevity of the bottles within.
We have spoken about humidity being another important factor for storing wine but do make sure that the environment in which you store the wine is not too humid, otherwise you run the risk of attracting mould, which can damage the cork and discolour the labels.
How to serve wine
The temperature that your wine is stored will be different to the recommended drinking temperature.
For most red wines, the ideal serving temperature is between 16 and 17 degrees Celsius. Red wine served any warmer than this won’t taste how it is intended to. White wine should be served slightly cooler, at around 7 degrees Celsius.
Serving wine at the right temperature is very important. If you fail to serve it correctly, you will be missing out on intended flavours and characteristics. You definitely don’t want to do that when you’re trying a wine that’s been on your shelf for years.
If you’re wanting to store wine for years, you should also ensure that your collection is away from any sources of vibration. These can include a washing machine, dryer and other home appliances. The vibrations, however small, can impact the ageing process of fine wine.
How to store wine after opening
The last thing you want is to store a bottle of wine correctly, open it and then come back for a drink at a later date only for it to taste completely different. With wines, this can happen as the oxidation process takes place.
These chemical reactions occur when air combines with ethanol and creates a new substance. This leads to the wine changing colour and flavour, which is certainly not what you want.
Unfortunately, to prevent this process from happening, re-corking the bottle is not an option. To protect your wine from oxidising, you must use a quality airtight solution.
You may choose to use an appropriate wine stopper. Another option is to use argon gas, which will create a layer over the wine, protecting it from excess air.
Lastly, you could transfer what’s left of your wine into a smaller bottle. This will mean there is less air that could be oxidised inside the bottle, slowing down the process.
Of course, you should also follow the tips we’ve mentioned above such as keeping your wine out of direct sunlight and also storing it in a wine cooler at a proper temperature.
How to store red wine
The ideal temperature for long term red wine storage is between 12 and 13 degrees celsius.
For a variety of reasons, red wines often age longer than white wines, due to the way they are made and the levels of acidity and tannin present. Top-notch Bordeaux wines from exceptional vintages have been known to be drinkable even after several decades whereas white wine, even the exceptionally wonderful Burgundies, would normally not be at their best after a couple of decades.
Storing your wine correctly doesn’t need to be hard work, with a high quality wine refrigerator you’ll always be enjoying your wine.
Not only will our advanced wine storage solutions protect your collection, they’ll also provide you with a beautiful piece of furniture. All of our wine fridges serve as an impressive talking point when guests are visiting.
Our wide range of wine coolers are every wine lover’s dream. With smart, modern designs, gorgeous LED displays and quality shelving options, your wine collection will be kept safe. If you need any further advice on all things wine, don’t hesitate to contact us, we’re always happy to help.