Wine Storage
Wines must be stored correctly in order to maintain the delicate balance that gives them superior taste and quality. As a general rule of thumb, red wines are sturdier than white and sweet wines. This is why red wines can be stored for years, while white wines can only last around a year or so, depending on the wine. This is an important lesson in learning about wine storage online when considering the purchase of fine wines that will not be consumed immediately after the sale.
In relation to online wine storage, there are three crucial environmental factors to consider when storing wine. These factors are temperature, light levels and humidity. Temperature should be between 40-55 degrees, with humidity around 75% or more. The lowest humidity level acceptable is 55%. In fact, in some European wine cellars, they have mold growing on the wine bottles because the humidity is kept so high! This is actually a point of pride in some wineries.
Keeping temperatures low and humidity high allows the cork inside the wine bottle to remain moist, which keeps excess oxygen out of the wine bottle. When oxygen gets into a dried-out cork, a wine can spoil very quickly. This is also why you should always store wine bottles on their sides, so the wine inside meets the cork.
The third factor that can harm your stored wine is light. Some wine bottles are specially-colored to prevent certain waves of light from degrading the wine over time. The best solution to defeating light is to keep your wine in the cellar until it is ready to drink. This is especially true of white wine, which is most susceptible to light degradation.
Giving your wine a good home until its ready to drink ensures that its flavor and quality is maintained throughout its life. There’s nothing better than a twenty-year-old red that’s been properly stored and maintained!