How to properly store the wine bottles

1. Aging

The aging of wine has a special meaning in our consciousness: we associate it with romance, special anniversaries, connoisseurship, prestige. But there is only one percent of wines in the world that are intended to age, which means that they gain quality during the years of rest in a cool and dark environment. All other wines go on sale when they are just right for consumption. We can find different data on how long a bottle can be stored, ranging from one to five years. It is worth remembering that young wines should be drunk as soon as possible, and white wines are also mostly unsuitable for longer storage. We often hear the unwritten rule that the cheaper the bottle, the faster it can be drunk. You will drink wines from shopping centers as soon as possible, but for storing more expensive, better and more complex ones, just consult the seller or cellar master.

2. Temperature and humidity

The ideal temperature for storing wine is between a constant 12 and 13 degrees Celsius, so the kitchen is the place with the worst conditions. The room must have a lot of humidity, as much as 75 percent is recommended. This prevents the cork stoppers from drying out, which would cause oxygen to penetrate the bottle and change the wine. This is also the reason why the bottle should always be stored horizontally, as the wine touches the cork and, so to speak, helps it not to dry out. Unfortunately, not everyone has a place where they can provide that much humidity, and such conditions are also necessary for professional storage and serious aging of wine. Don’t worry: if you make sure that the bottles rest and wait to be drunk, lying down, they will most likely maintain their quality. You can also help yourself with a pot of water placed in the room. But if you’re one of those people who opens a bottle in a short time, there’s nothing wrong with placing it upright.

3. Light

Light can completely change the quality and structure of wine, so always store it in a dark place. In extreme cases, strong exposure to light can cause chemical reactions in wine, making it completely spoiled, smelly, and attract insects.

4. Vibrations

We store the bottle so that it doesn’t move, but rather sits motionless and waits for us to mature in peace. But you probably don’t pick up bottles every day and play bowling with them anyway, so such concern is unnecessary in most cases.

5. Storing Opened Wine

Opened wines are stored in the refrigerator, while red wines can be stored on the counter, but in both cases they must be tightly sealed. Use the original cork stopper with the same side as the bottle was closed, as the opposite, dry side can be full of dirt. However, this is not the best way, as the air in the bottle that we will re-close will still remain and contribute to oxidation. Alternatively, we can buy vacuum pumps or special stoppers on the market that squeeze out the air and keep the wine fresh for a day longer, or gas wine preservers, which are probably unnecessary for moderate home use.