Wine can change even before you open the bottle. Usually the culprit is poor storage, which can affect its flavour and, in severe cases, cause the wine to become faulty. This is every wine enthusiast and professional should know how to store wine properly.
Many people think that wine storage is complicated, but all you need to do is get these four things right: temperature, bottle position, light and movement.
- Keep Wine at a Cool, Constant Temperature
For long-term storage, store your wine a cool environment with as little temperature fluctuation as possible.
A useful range is 10°C to 15°C. Both excessive heat and extreme cold can damage wine. More importantly, avoid frequent temperature changes.
This is why the kitchen is usually a poor place for long-term wine storage for two reasons. First, the temperature change as many times as you open the refrigerator.
Second, kitchen refrigerator has a low level of humidity. Long periods of refrigeration can cause natural corks to dry out and lose elasticity. If the seal eventually fails, air can enter the bottle and the wine may become stale. Thus, a domestic refrigerator is useful for chilling wine before service, or short term storage- like if you buy a wine bottle and plan to drink it up in a day or two. But it is not ideal for extended storage.
- Store Cork-Sealed Bottles on Their Side
Wine sealed with a natural cork should generally be stored horizontally for long-term storage.
This keeps the cork moist as it is in constant contact with the wine. If a cork dries out, it shrivels and loses its ability to maintain an effective seal. Air enters the bottle and causes the wine to oxidise.
Most wine bottles that we buy today have screw caps. These can be stored upright.
- Protect Wine From Strong Light
Avoid storing wine in direct sunlight and strong artificial light.
Light can heat the bottle and accelerate changes in the wine. Over time, this can make a wine taste stale or prematurely aged. Some wines can also develop unpleasant flavours after exposure to artificial light.
A dark cupboard, wine cabinet or dedicated cellar is therefore preferable to an exposed kitchen shelf or sunny windowsill.
- Keep Bottles Away From Vibration
If you want to store a bottle of wine for long-term make sure to protect in from constant movement. A common source of this is vibration, which happens if you store wine in refrigerator. This movement is not visible to the naked eye, but on a micrsopic level, vibrations can change the chemical composition of a wine and alter its taste. The result is that despite paying a handsome price, you end up with a wine that doesn’t taste as it should.
So, opt for wine coolers or refrigerators that are designed to reduce vibrations.
The basic rule is simple: keep wine cool, dark, stable and correctly positioned.
Build Expertise In Wine
Correct storage is one part of understanding how wine develops and reaches the consumer in its best condition. For professionals and serious wine enthusiasts, the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines develops a much deeper understanding of viticulture, winemaking, global wine regions, labelling and professional wine evaluation. Students also develop advanced tasting skills using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine® (SAT).
At Sonal Holland Academy, the programme combines theory with structured tasting and professional wine education.
Programme Highlights
- Expert-led training with WSET educators
- 60+ international wine samples
- Globally recognised WSET certification
- Career and networking opportunities in the alcobev industry
- Training with Le Nez du Vin, the world-renowned aroma training kit that helps students identify and memorise wine aromas more effectively
Upon successfully passing the qualification, students receive an internationally recognised WSET Level 3 certificate and WSET Level 3 lapel pin.
Click here to check out details for the upcoming WSET Level 3 Award in Wines batch at Sonal Holland Academy.
