Cellaring Your Wine

Now we'll discuss where best to store your wine once it is bottled and where not to store your wine. No matter where you end up storing it, store the bottles on their sides so the cork is kept wet by the wine and will not shrink and admit air, which could make your wine cidery. Store screw-top bottles upright. Ideally, the bottles should be stored in a rack, giving each bottle a compartment by itself, so you can easily remove a bottle without jogging the others.

As far as an area in your home for storage, there are different locations, depending on whether you live in an apartment or a home with a basement. If you live in an apartment, you can maybe use part of one of your closets to hold a wine rack or maybe a cupboard near the floor, as long as it is not an area where a lot of disturbance is created; i.e. a closet or cupboard not used a great deal. Try to find the coolest spot in your apartment away from vibrations and big fluctuations in temperature.

On the other hand, if you live in a home with a basement, it is ideal. Underground storage is best, as long as it doesn't freeze. Make your basement storage area against an outside wall and away from the furnace. A north-facing wall is best, to avoid the heat in the summer. Ensure some humidity and fresh air circulation. A few degrees difference between summer and winter won't do any harm, as long as the change in temperature is slow and steady. The optimum storage temperature is between 10 and 13 degrees Celsius. To create a wine cellar in your basement, monitor the temperatures to find the best area. Wall off a section using good insulation, particularly on the ceiling. Be generous when creating your cellar, as no doubt your collection will grow over a couple of years.

The following places are examples of where NOT to store your wine

* Avoid areas where there are odours like paint, gasoline, ammonia, etc. Any strong smell can contaminate the neck of a wine bottle and the wine may pick up the odour when it is poured.

* Avoid storing it under a set of stairs, as the vibration caused by going up and down the stairs can be an enemy to your wine and won't allow it to age properly.

* Another place to avoid is the kitchen or under a sink, as there are constant temperature changes due to cooking and water pipes, plus the constant vibration due to usually high traffic in the kitchen area. Especially, do not store it over a fridge.

* It is not advisable to store even unopened bottles of wine in the fridge. The vibration from the motor and the opening and closing of the door can jar your wine and can weaken it.

WINE RACKS

Whether you buy or build your wine racks, remember, the main reason for using a rack is to keep the bottles on their sides to keep the cork moist. Be creative in finding a rack for your storage. Consider using 48 oz. juice cans on a shelf or drain tiles. Even collapsible racks will work.

To sum it all up, the ideal place to let your wine mature in peace is a cook, dark, slightly damp place with good air circulation away from the direct sunlight and excessive vibration and strong smells, with the least fluctuation in temperature. But, make the best of whatever place you have.