Ideal Storage Conditions for Optimal Ageing
Issue: Apr 2022
There is absolutely nothing worse than popping open your favourite bottle of wine after saving it for years, only to find that it is in a less than ideal state as a result of keeping it in an environment that is not suitable for the storage of wine. Find out what you need to take note of to ensure the optimal storage conditions for your wine.
Ensure Consistently Cool Conditions
Have you heard that you should keep wine at room temperature? Well, although it would make storing easier, this is not the best option to keep wine in the long run, especially if you are looking to age your wine.
For optimal ageing of wine during storage, wine is best kept at temperatures below 21 degrees Celsius (70 Fahrenheit). As heat affects the elements and composition of the wine, the flavours and aromas will likely be altered when stored in warmer environments.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the wine should be kept consistently chilled. If there are constant changes in the temperature, the wine cork will swell and shrink, causing oxygen to enter the bottle. This is something which should be avoided at all costs since oxygen essentially breaks down your wine’s compounds. With constant oxygen in your bottle, your chances of ageing your wine successfully will dramatically decrease over the long term.
Store the Wine on its side and minimise shifting it
A vital factor to consider for storing wine long term is keeping the bottle on its side. This is to keep the cork moist, which prevents it from drying out. On top of keeping the temperatures in the wine storage environment steady, it is also important to refrain from storing the wine bottle in an upright position as that will cause the cork to dry out and air pockets will start to form.
Another thing to bear in mind is making sure that the wine bottle is kept stationary as much as possible. Any type of vibration around the bottles can disturb and damage the wine. While vibration may speed up the wine’s ageing process, it prevents the innate aromas and flavours from developing. We are all aware that wine is exceptionally delicate, so it is certainly worthwhile taking good care of the wine to ensure optimal ageing. Thus, a conventional fridge may not be ideal for wine storage as there may be too much movement and vibration in these conditions.
Avoid Natural Sunlight and Fluorescent Lights
Light is undeniably another major consideration when it comes to the dignity of your wine because of how delicate it is. Any type of light, be it natural or artificial, can affect your wine from prolong exposure. If you consider what the sun does to your skin, it makes sense that light can be harmful to wine too. For optimal long-term ageing, wine should be kept away from light.
At the end of the day, if you are planning to store wine for an extended period, ensure your wine storage area meets the aforementioned prerequisites, and you should be able to store your wine for decades. Cellars and fridges that are designed to store wine are mostly for wine consumption. At Winebanc, we understand the intricacy required for wine storage and we have taken our time to consider every aspect of our wine cellar, such as the lighting, anti-vibration storage and interior design. Most importantly, we take great care in ensuring temperature and humidity precision so that your collections are kept mellow at stellar conditions.
With 24/7 customer access at 3 locations conveniently located in the heart of Singapore, Winebanc crafted a private and exclusive, minimalistic yet elegant wine cellar to meet your demands for wine preservation and delectation. Visit us at www.winebanc.wine or contact us at 6955 9788 today, and join today, as with many wine connoisseurs who have been storing with us since 2019.