Wines are susceptible to changes in their environment brought about by external factors such as temperature, humidity, and light. They are susceptible to deterioration when kept under adverse conditions. In order for wines to mature to their full potential, they require a climate controlled environment with minimal light infiltration.
External Factors that Affect Wine’s Maturity
As previously mentioned the three factors that can greatly influence a wine’s condition are light, temperature, and humidity. The reason why most wines are packaged in dark bottles is to protect them from the harmful effects of light. Continuous exposure to incandescent light can develop possible wine faults and lead to spoilage.
The ideal wine storage temperature is between 50 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is too high, it can accelerate the aging process and cause wine spoilage.
Humidity levels should be maintained at 60% to 75%. Excessive humidity can promote mold growth that can affect the flavor of wines and damage their labels, while lack of humidity can dry out the corks and introduce wine faults.
Different Wine Storage Options
Wine CellarsWine Storage Racks
Not every wine enthusiast has the financial capacity or the required space to add a wine cellar to their home. There are alternative wine storage options available for the financially strapped or budget savvy wine lover. Wine racks are a great example. Racking systems come in multiple sizes and styles that can accommodate various needs and requirements.
Wine racks are designed to facilitate proper orientation of wine bottles. Bottles should be laid at an angle to keep the cork in constant contact with the wine. This ensures that the cork will remain moist at all times and prevent it from drying out. Wine storage racks are made from various materials such as wood, metal, and stone.
Most wine racks are designed to address constraints in floor space and architectural structure. The common types of racking systems are modular, wall-mounted, stackable, diamond and rectangular bins, and custom wine racking systems.
Another affordable storage alternative is refrigerated wine cabinets. These wine cabinets operate like mini wine cellars because they come with wine cooling systems that control temperature and humidity levels. They also provide individual cubbyholes that protect the wine bottles from breakage.
Wine cabinets are available in various designs and storage capacities. Some cabinets have additional features like stemware racks and drawers. Stemware racks allow you to hang your wine glasses for ease of access. Drawers are used to store wine related accessories such as corkscrews and wine stoppers.
Whichever wine storage solution you choose, always take into consideration the three factors that can affect the overall condition of your wines. The storage environment should have minimal light exposure and climate conditions should remain stable.