Collecting wine is one of the joys of being an oenophile but storing it can present its own set of challenges. Knowing how to store wine isn’t always the same as doing it. It helps to remember why we cellar wine in the first place.
Why age?
As wine ages, its aromas and flavors become more complex. Acidity and tannins soften over time, so the wine will become less astringent and more balanced. How long to cellar a wine comes down to preference. Young wines will show bright fruit flavors and fresh acidity. The longer wine ages, the softer and more complex it becomes. Typically, wines higher in tannin and acids will age the longest; under the right conditions, they can last 25 or more years.
“For me, an Oregon Pinot Noir with about 10 years of age is almost perfect, although I have plenty of wines in my cellar that are 20+ years old,” Winemaker Brent Stone says. “The primary fruit flavors are still there but the wines become softer and tertiary flavors start to emerge, creating nice complexity, balance and food pairing versatility.”
Storage tips
Good storage preserves flavor, presents spoilage and maximizes wine’s aging potential. White wines can benefit from cellar aging just as reds do and the storage method is similar, too. Wine is basically a living thing and it craves stability. Four things wine doesn’t like are heat, light, fluctuating temperatures and vibration. That means no wine stored above the stove or refrigerator or in a window, laundry room or garage. The longer you intend to keep the wine cellared, the more important it is to adhere to the low light/low temperature rule. To prevent the corks from drying out, store the bottles on their sides in a space with a humidity level of 60% to 70% which is higher than in the average home. A wine cooler is great but if that’s not possible, a cool basement closet or even a protected crawl space under a house can work. A temperature of 55 degrees is ideal but the wine should be fine even at 65 degrees. If these conditions simply aren’t available in your living situation, fear not. You can always just drink it.
