YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A WINE SNOB TO APPRECIATE A GOOD WINE. FOR THOSE SEEKING A FUN HOBBY, WHY NOT COLLECT SOMETHING YOU NOT ONLY APPRECIATE VISUALLY AS A BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY, BUT CAN ALSO BE CONSUMED? WIN-WIN!
CLIMATE CONTROL If there is a secret to success, this is step one. Wine is delicate and doesn’t do well with big temperature and humidity fluctuations. Keeping your wine in good shape starts here. Did you know the ideal temperature is 55-58 degrees Fahrenheit? For shorter term storage of two-three years, 65-68 degrees will do fine. Whites are more delicate than reds and are much more sensitive to big temperature extremes. There are a couple options to maintain the optimal temperature and humidity in your wine cellar. Active: You can either invest in a good wine refrigerator, cooler, or cooling system. Passive: You can choose a cool, dry, dark spot for your wine cellar, away from windows or exterior walls, where the wine stays protected from exterior temperature changes year round. HUMIDITY CONTROL Humidity is really only an issue if you are planning to hold wines for over 15 years. You may be asking why humidity is a concern at all, since they are bottled? The answer lies with the cork. In order for it to stay in good condition and not affect the taste of the wine — since it should be touching it — a relative humidity of 50% to 75% is ideal. When the humidity is below 50%, the cork can dry out, and when the humidity is above 75%, the labels can deteriorate.
OENOPHILE. THIS TERM WAS DEVELOPED BY THE FRENCH IN THE 1800S COMBINING TWO GREEK WORDS OENO , MEANING WINE, WITH PHILE , MEANING LOVER OF.
LIGHT CONTROL Ultraviolet light is one of wine’s enemies. It can prematurely age the wine. Take great care with sparkling wines and whites, as they are very light sensitive. VIBRATION CONTROL Reds do not like to be disturbed! Constant vibrations from a nearby fridge or dishwasher are a big no-no. RACK CONTROL Did you know that wine likes to stay horizontal? Keep your jokes to yourself. The wine should stay in contact with the cork. That’s a good thing. Store your bottles with the label facing up so that any sediment deposits can be seen while pouring. Avoid using woods like cedar within the shelving and walls, as that can affect taste. Mahogany is a favorite with those contractors in the know.
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