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While considering the matter of storing wine effectively, it is important for wine lovers to remember that not all wines can age gracefully. Some wines are best drunk fresh. Most red wines taste better after a long sojourn in the dark depths of a cellar. On the contrary, few white wines need to mature. Whatever the type of wine, a brief period of rest, after bringing it home and before uncorking it, does the wine a lot of good and enhances its taste. 

The Romans get the credit of discovering the first effective method of storing wine. Their method was simple—using corks to keep wines in an air-free atmosphere. Unfortunately, the Romans’ precious knowledge of wine storage was lost when the Roman Empire went into decline. 

The cork was rediscovered during the seventeenth century and an enterprising Englishman, by name Sir Kenelm Digby, discovered a way to make thicker and stronger glass bottles. The cork was united with this bottle and the practice of allowing wine to age in bottles began. 

Collectors of fine wine need to remember that they are dealing with something alive that reacts strongly to its environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, calmness, darkness, cleanliness, and ventilation. Even the angle of the bottle has an important role to play. 

• Store the bottle horizontally; the wine moistens the cork and prevents the entry of air.

 

• Maintain the temperature anywhere between 40°F and 65°F. Fluctuations in temperature damage the wine and age it prematurely. Moreover, a fluctuating temperature damages the cork and its ability to keep the air out.

 

• Humidity does not affect the wine itself in any way. However, excess humidity can cause the rotting of the labels, cork, and the cardboard boxes in which the wine is packed. On the other hand, insufficient humidity can cause dryness in the cork, which in turn, destroys its elasticity and ability to prevent the entry of air. The recommended humidity is 70 percent.

 

• Light absolutely destroys wine. Ultraviolet light can penetrate the darkest of bottles and give the wine an unpleasant odor. Remember that sparkling wines are more sensitive to light than any other type. So, keep the wines in a dark place.

 

• Wine loves quiet and calm. Any vibration is capable of destroying its worth. Arrange the bottles in such a way that you don’t have to change the position of the bottles to find a particular wine. Wine, once laid to rest, should be at rest till it is time to drink it.

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