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7 Best Practice Tips for Wine Storage in Brisbane
5 minute read
Our wine guru shares his secrets for professional wine storage.
A wine, imperfectly stored, is at risk of being out of condition when the cork is eventually pulled and is certainly a less attractive resale proposition.
Whether buying for investment or for future drinking it is equally important that your wine is stored in exemplary conditions
Storing wine properly is crucial to preserving its quality and ensuring that it matures gracefully over time. Whether you're a casual wine enthusiast or an avid collector, knowing the right and wrong ways to store wine can help you avoid costly mistakes and enhance your wine-drinking experience. Here's a guide to the do's and don'ts of storing wine.
Do Store Wine in a Cool, Consistent Temperature
Keep your wine in a space with a stable temperature, ideally between 12-15°C. Consistency is key—fluctuations can cause the wine to expand and contract, negatively affecting its quality. Heat can accelerate aging, while cold can cause the wine to become dull or freeze. Consistent, cool temperatures allow wine to mature properly over time.
Don't Store Wine in the Kitchen / Pantry
Avoid storing wine in the kitchen and or pantry, especially near the oven or fridge. Kitchens tend to fluctuate in temperature due to cooking, and the heat can accelerate the wine’s aging process or spoil it.
Do Store Bottles Horizontally
Store wine bottles on their side, especially those with corks. This helps keep the cork moist, preventing it from drying out and shrinking, which could allow air to enter the bottle and spoil the wine.
Don't Store Bottles Upright (Long Term)
Avoid storing bottles upright for extended periods, especially those sealed with corks. This can cause the cork to dry out, allowing air to seep into the bottle and potentially spoil the wine.
Do Keep Wine in a Dark Place
Avoid storing bottles upright for extended periods, especially those sealed with corks. This can cause the cork to dry out, allowing air to seep into the bottle and potentially spoil the wine.
Don't Expose Wine to Extreme Temperatures
Don’t store wine in places like a garage, attic’s, or near windows where temperature fluctuations can be extreme. Extreme heat or cold can damage the wine. Temperatures over 21°C can cause wine to "cook," while freezing temperatures can cause the wine to expand and push out the cork.
Do Maintain Proper Humidity
Ensure that the storage area has a humidity level of 65-75%. Humidity prevents corks from drying out. Too much humidity can cause mould, while too little can lead to air entering the bottle.
Don't Store Wine in the Kitchen Fridge (Long Term)
The kitchen refrigerator is not ideal for long-term wine storage. Fridges are too cold for proper wine aging (typically around 4°C), and the lack of humidity can dry out corks. They’re fine for short-term storage, but not for long-term aging.
Do Use a Wine Fridge, Cellar or Specialised Offsite Wine Storage Facility
If you're serious about long-term wine storage, invest in a wine fridge, dedicate an area for a wine cellar or consider storing your wines off site in a specialised wine storage facility. These provide the optimal environment for aging wine, including controlled temperature, humidity, and protection from light.
Don't Store Wine Near Strong Smells
Avoid storing wine in areas with strong odours, like near chemicals, cleaning products, or foods with strong smells. Wine can absorb odours through the cork, affecting its flavour and aroma over time
Do Keep Wine Away from Vibrations
Store wine in a place free from vibrations, such as appliances, heavy traffic, or areas with frequent movement. Vibrations can disturb the sediment in the bottle, affecting the wine's aging process and overall flavour.
Don't Keep Wine in Bright Light
Don’t expose wine to direct sunlight or bright indoor lighting. Light can degrade and prematurely age wine, causing it to lose its freshness and flavour.
Do Label and Rotate your Bottles
Organise your collection, label bottles with purchase and expected maturity dates, and rotate your stock. This helps you keep track of which wines are ready to drink and prevents older bottles from being forgotten.
Don't Prematurely Open Wine you Plan to Age
Resist the temptation to open bottles of wine that are meant to be aged. Some wines need time to develop their full flavour and complexity. Opening them too soon can prevent you from enjoying their best qualities.
Bonus Tips for Wine Storage
- Short-term Storage: If you're planning to drink the wine within a few weeks, storing it in a dark, cool cabinet away from appliances is fine.
- Use Vacuum Sealers for Open Bottles: Once opened, use vacuum sealers or wine preservers to extend the life of the wine by removing oxygen from the bottle.
STORE WITH CONFIDENCE
If you have some great wines but don’t feel you have the right environmental conditions at home to store them, ask a trusted friend or family member to see if they can store for you while you consider making changes at home or relocate to a purpose-built wine storage facility. If you’re serious about investing & cellaring your wines long-term, there are wine fridges & companies who build custom wine cellars, plus a number of professional, local, purpose-built wine storage facilities. Looking for more great advice on all things wine? Check out our website or reach out to the team at Sedimentary.
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