How to store your wine has been an art and a science ever since the first grape was fermented. There are those who need to master the most esoteric techniques, for their wine is an investment which must be protected. There are others who just need to know how to preserve the half bottle of supermarket wine they did not finish last night at dinner.
Wine is fermented grape juice. The variety of grape dictates the sort of wine that will be produced. The way the wine is treated during its production - ripened in oak casks, for instance - determines its final flavor. However, all wine can be damaged by rough handling, exposure to light or to extremes of heat and cold, and exposure to air. During storage, the wine must be protected from all of these.
Wine, which is fermented grape juice, is crafted rather than produced. It is carefully blended for flavor, color, and aroma, and wine makers pride themselves on the quality of their product. There are competitions held all over the world, and the gold medal winners proudly display the awards on their labels. It behooves those who drink the wine to show it as much respect.
Wine should be kept in a dark place, away from direct sunlight. Daylight and fluorescent light are also to be avoided. The bottle should be placed on its side and angled slightly downward so the cork will be moistened from within. A dried out cork will not keep its seal, may leak, and will allow the wine to oxidize.
It is more customary to age red wine than white, although there are exceptions to this. Red wine may accumulate sediment over years of storage, so if it is laid with the label up, it will be easier to examine as well as identify. It is not good for wine to be disturbed more than is necessary, so place the wine behind other bottles where it will not need to be moved.
Once a wine bottle has been opened, the wine will be exposed to air. This can mellow the flavor at first but will change it if allowed to go on for too long. For this reason, you may want to invest in a wine stopper and pump, which will draw off the air in the bottle and keep more air from seeping in. In any case, the bottle should be stopped completely, with its original cork or another stopper, and placed in a dark place if red and in the refrigerator if white. It should be used within two days for best results.
Knowing how to store wine for decades is an art and a skill that many do have, so if this interests you, there is a lot of information on the internet or in books that can even help you build your own cellar or cooler. Things like humidifiers, special racks, steel doors, and thermostats help achieve the optimal environment for treasured wines.
Learning how to store your wine can be simple or very involved, depending on the wine and the time frame. Fortunately, the wisdom of the ages is available for us in books and on the internet.
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