How wines are best stored?

The storage for the purpose of maturing for any wine lover is an important issue.

There is a need to worry about that because it is usually impossible or very expensive to buy wines to drink. Therefore, we will buy wines usually relatively soon after their own bottling and warehousing, to the best drinking time is reached. I speak here not of a storage for several weeks, but over years or decades.

Temperature

It is repeatedly discussed in the literature and among wine lovers on the optimal storage temperature. This is my conviction after a relatively unimportant as long as a range is observed from 8 degrees to about 18 degrees.

Temperature fluctuations

Even more problematic than the absolute temperature, temperature fluctuations. The temperature of the storage room should be as constant.

It is between day and night variations and seasonal variations to be distinguished. The former should not happen or at least minimize very large extent. Seasonal fluctuations in moderation (5 degrees or more) quite acceptable.

Humidity

At least as important as the temperature is the humidity. A sufficiently high humidity is necessary so that the corks remain flexible and seal the bottle in the long term reliability. The humidity in normal building basements or apartments will not suffice.

Shocks

The wines should be kept free from vibration. That is one reason why, for example, a conventional refrigerator is not the best place for that.

Light

Light damages the wine. Therefore, wine bottles are stored in the dark. Emergency cover!

What can you do to achieve these storage conditions?

Those lucky enough to have an old cellar, which so far is thermally isolated from the outside world, that at least the day and night variations are largely held was lucky. Old damp cellars are usually, and that's good for the wine.

Who has not this happiness can make do with electric wine cabinets. The following manufacturers are known to me:

• Liebherr
• Chambrair
• Siemens
• Eurocave
• Bosch
• Electrolux
• Vestfrost (Scandinavian manufacturer)
• IP industry
• ENOFRIGO
• Gaggenau
• Klimadiff
• Haier
• Smeg

These cabinets provide a vibration-free storage, sufficient humidity and temperature stability. Who, however, with the idea of ​​wearing, for the storage of the wines go up a wine cooler, should consider how many units you need for 500 to 1,500 bottles (which is a normal size for a wine lover) and what investments and current (power) costs associated. A structural change or hiring an external basement there is often a better solution.

Another alternative is to air condition the entire basement area with refrigerator doors or cold rooms. For more information about that example of the company Guenther .

Even the closing of the basement window with insulation or insulation of the necessary "warm" walls can significantly reduce temperature fluctuations. The humidity can be, for example by wet towels or raise a vat of wet stones hydroponics.

A conventional refrigerator is way inappropriate, because these technical reasons had too many shocks and periodic temperature fluctuations. Both are permanently harmful to the wine.

Additional Measures

If that's not too much effort, can make an additional sealing of the bottle, as he covers his head with a bottle of document sealing wax. This closure is then gas-tight, and even in aging corks, etc. can be no exchange of air. Another benefit is that this treatment also prevents the dreaded Korkmotte .

Standing or lying?

Wine bottles should be stored horizontally. This ensures that the cork from the inside remains wet. However, I would not conceal that there are now studies that suggest a standing with adequate humidity storage. I personally trust there but rather on the conservative opinion.

Even with champagne opinions differ. Champagne is often also stored upright, as well as sherry, port and Madeira. This is because carbon dioxide (for sparkling wines) and high alcohol levels could damage the cork.

Utz Graafmann