Ideal conditions for storing wine
- Horizontal position (tube should be fully washed with wine);
- Darkness;
- Clean, well ventilated place (preferably cellar);
- Complete peace and quiet;
- Constant temperature of 11-12 ° C (10-14 ° C is acceptable);
- Constant humidity of 75-80 percent (not less than 70);
- No smell in the store.
Worst enemies of wine
- Light, especially sunlight and neon;
- High (above 20 ° C) or too low temperature, constant fluctuations in temperature;
- Vibration;
- Too low humidity (which might result in drying up traffic jams, very high humidity rather dangerous for the labels, although there is the risk of mold in the cork );
- * Smells of kerosene, fuel oil, etc. (Caps do not provide complete integrity - otherwise the wine could not have improved).
Wine storage is desirable to have equipped cellar, the walls of which must be made of porous material (limestone, brick). If the concrete walls, deprived of time, you should drill holes in several places.
Most important is clean air. This can be achieved in two ways: either fit in the bottom of the door (ideally located on the north side) ventilation grille and hood to the south or east wall, ceiling, to avoid dangerous for wine drafts, or install air conditioners (the second is preferable for large premises). Ideally, the best target for cellar is in the north-south part. On the floor is desirable to pour gravel or sand (approximately 4-5-cm layer), which should be regularly watered with water (especially in summer). With high humidity the coating should be dry to absorb excess moisture. Need to equip repository thermometer and hydrometers. For lighting is recommended to use weak light bulbs and to use them only for the duration of your stay in the cellar.
Do not forget that the vibration is extremely dangerous for the wine: if there are tram lines, if behind a wall is an electric motor (or roaring hard rock), your wine can greatly suffer.Shelves for bottles do not want a plastic or wood: both are not very reliable, and the wood can rot. On one shelf (if no cells) must fit no more than six rows of bottles. Wine designed for long-term storage should be located far away or in the lower ranks, to once again do not move the bottle, but those you are going to drink before – more closer to the upper ranks. Bottles should be laid down labels for better preservation of them. Of course, it is desirable to expand the bottle in accordance with their areas of origin, types of wines and vintage. Owners of a large collection experts recommend a catalog for easy to find the right bottle.
Lovers of wine or restaurants who do not have a cellar, it may be advisable to purchase a special refrigerator. They are expensive, but, first, are convenient because they can be put anywhere, and secondly, are equipped with devices to regulate temperature and humidity.
Notes
1. Not recommended for very long to store wine in a boxes: they rot and, consequently, might give rise to smells that are sure to pass into the wine, because the sealing of bottles, usually not 100%.
2. If wine is not very old, and the intended period of storage does not exceed one and a half years, allowable temperature 16-18 ° C (according to one source - up to 20 ° C). At this temperature, the wine matures more quickly, but not improving as much as at a temperature of 11-12 ° C. On the other hand, at a temperature of 8-9 ° C almost no wine evolves.