Storing wine is what we'll be looking at in this part of our wine 101 guide...
The first thing you need to know when it comes to wine storage is to place your bottles on their side somewhere relatively cool and free from direct light. Doing so will minimize damage (mainly in terms of deterioration of taste and flavors) to the wine and allow you to store it for as long as you desire. Still, learning a bit more about wine storage can help you maximize your wines quality.
When it comes to preserving wine, temperature is the thing that makes the most difference. Wine should normally be stored between 50-60F, although a range of 45-65F is considered OK. If your temperature is too low, your wine will not age properly. Whereas, warmer temperatures can cause wine to age prematurely (not in a good way).
Fluctuating temperatures hurt wines the most. A steady temperature at either acceptable extreme being better than storage that every day goes from 45F - 65F and back again. The temperature should never fluctuate more than 5 degrees a day; this is especially important for red wines, which can be more damaged than whites from fluctuations.
Humidity is also important as, unless its properly maintained, it can cause the cork to dry out, and this allows air to come into contact with the wine (which damages it). Try to keep your storage areas humidity level at around 70 to 80 percent, you can buy a hygrometer to keep track of this.
A wine cellar is the ideal place for storing wine because it maintains the optimal humidity and temperature; however, they aren't practical for most people because of their size and cost. If a wine cellar isnt practical for you, place your bottles in a garage or basement to achieve similar conditions. Making some space in either and purchasing a wine rack and temperature / humidity gauge are highly recommended if you intend on storing more than a few bottles of wine at a time.
As for how long to store it for, this depends on the type of wine, the region the wine was made in, the technique used to make it, and the particular year the grapes were harvested in. However, as a general guideline, whites normally do not age for long, while reds age for 5-10 years. If you're starting out, consult a free online aging chart to to assist you with this aspect of wine storage.
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