Stratford Shop Shares Tips on Storing Wine

The following comes from a blog post by Bill Alletzhauser of the Wine Maker's Boutique in Stratford.

What is the best way to store bottled wine?

I get this question a lot!

Assuming that the new bottle of wine you just purchased, actually makes the full trip from where you bought it to your home, it deserves a nice resting place until it is time to consume it.

Experts differ on temperatures for red vs. white wines but most agree on this: a cool, dark and quiet place is best for all wines. The ideal storage temp for whites has been quoted as 46 degrees F, and 52-56 degrees F for reds.

The reasoning behind this is that reds have more "protection" against spoilage than whites and can stand the slightly warmer temp....plus, the flavors and aromas of the reds emerge once brought up to room temp before drinking and will warm up faster if stored at 56.

Keep in mind the warmer the temp, the faster the wine will age and if it ages past its prime, in poor conditions, it will turn on you!

The darkness refers to the fact that sunlight and even florescent light can damage wines especially reds so they are traditionally stored in dark bottles.   White wines can also be damaged but because a white wine is best consumed "young", a dark bottle may not be necessary.

The quiet corner is also important. Wine is a constantly changing liquid and most red wines will improve with age. However, the wine will not want to be moved around or endure long-term vibration as this will upset the natural aging process.

If you are like me and don't have a cave to store your great collection of wine, there are wine chillers (small type refrigerators) that can store small to large quantities of wine at a specific temp at reasonable prices. By the way, your kitchen may not be the best place to store wine unless its in a chiller or your fridge!

Bottom line: if you invest in wine (short term....or long term) you will want to protect it and until its time to enjoy it; give it a good resting place!

Hope this is helpful: The Wine Maker's Boutique