One of the joys in life is to experience the “ah-ha” moments, when you realize something new. I had a food and wine “ah-ha” moment about thirty years ago, when I had a meal with a huge food and wine pairing. The dinner sparked a passion for wine that eventually led to own a wine cellar. If you have the desire to begin the storage potential of wines, now is the perfect time to start.
This topic will be discussed in two columns. This month’s column will examine why there is a good opportunity to collect wines, where to store your collection and a few simple tips storage. Next month’s column will offer specific proposals wine collection.
Why Store Wine
With a selection of properly stored wine in hand, you have a good glass of wine to pour when friends and family over for talks and dinner. Stocking a cross section of white, red and sparklers, you can expand your offerings to your guests.
Why Collect Now
There is an abundance of wine in the market due to global overproduction and a global recession. Quantity is up, while demand is down, creating a glut of wine. Wineries have been forced to resort to slashing their prices to the traditional wine distributors, and excess inventory available at a reduced price to the next outlet, as the discount internet sites. Because of these deep discounts and abundant, now is the time to either add to an existing collection or start collecting wine.
Do you want to save the Collection
Wine is sensitive to temperature and light and ideally should be stored in a cool, dark place. The basement can offer a suitable place to house your wine collection, if there is a section that is moderately cool year round. Wine bottle storage can range from expensive pine or mahogany interiors for cardboard boxes. For the cheapest alternative storage, simply collect a few empty cartons of wine from your local wine merchant and place the boxes on their sides in heavy plastic shelves. Instant Wine Cellar for less than $ 100! Wire lattice interiors are another affordable option that can hold about 100 bottles per rack for about $ 100 plus shipping. More sophisticated interiors and cooling options are certainly available in a variety of prices.
For those of you without a basement, consider purchasing a refrigerated wine cooler. Ground floor bedrooms or closets give the dark but does not provide a sufficiently low temperature for long-term aging.
As a general rule, when stocking your “cellar”, the place whites on the top shelves and reds on the bottom shelves. As cold air sinks, the lower shelves, cooler, making it a better place to store your long aging wines – which tend to be your red wines. White wines tend to be consumed at a younger age, so they may not need the best shelf space. Ask your wine merchant for advice on the potential long-term cellar wine you buy.
Simple wine storage tips
Wine is a natural, live drink that is sensitive to storage conditions. Correct storage of wine not only maintains the quality of the wine in the purchase, but can allow the wine’s aromas and flavors to gracefully evolve into a more complex and enjoyable beverage as it matures. Here are the key storage issues:
- Temperature: wine ages more slowly at lower temperatures and faster at higher temperatures. While the wine is stored 45-64 degrees, I think it’s best to keep the wine in the mid fifties range. As a reference point, a wine cellar in France about 55 degrees, and are ideal for long-term aging.
- Humidity: A moderately wet (and dry) environment helps the top of the cork from drying out. Store a bottle of wine on hand, allowing the bottom of the cork (inside the bottle) to remain moist and maintain a good seal.
- Lighting: Ultraviolet light is wine’s enemy. Wines are deliberately bottled in colored glass and stored in dark places, to protect this living drink from harmful rays of light.
- Vibration: Wine is best undisturbed. Shake a bottle of wine and agitation may adversely affect the taste. For best results, give the wine a few days to settle after the ride home from the wine shop.
How to Collect Wine
People drink what they like and what they are accustomed, at the price points that they are comfortable. So it would be natural to have on hand some of your favorites. Next month’s column will help you build your wine collection by providing suggestions for different varieties of stocks, some expensive labels, and general food pairings for these wines. See you next month.
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