Have you ever grabbed that special bottle of wine that you’ve been holding onto for the last five or so years — you know the one that you’ve kept on top of the fridge — only to find that it tastes like vinegar? The wine probably would have tasted fine when it first came into your possession, but it just wasn’t stored properly. The main variables in wine storage are temperature, humidity and light. Both red and white wines should be stored between 53 and 58 degrees and as near 70 percent humidity as possible. Extreme changes in temperature and exposure to heat can ruin a bottle of wine. If you have ever heard that a bottle should be “laid down” for some period of time — this refers to storing the bottle in a horizontal position. This is where humidity control is important, because the cork needs to maintain moisture in order to prevent evaporation. With the bottle kept in a horizontal position, the wine stays in contact with the cork. If a bottle is stored in an upright position for too long, the cork may dry out and crumble when you attempt to open the bottle. Sunlight can damage a bottle of wine just as much as changes in temperature, which is one reason why most wineries use colored glass when bottling their wines. But you should not rely on the colored bottles alone. Wine should be stored in a dark cool space, or for the best results in a refrigerated wine cabinet. In order to achieve the ultimate result for long term storage, I would recommend purchasing a refrigerated storage unit or renting space at a facility that maintains wine at the proper temperature and humidity. Wine storage units are available today in affordable prices ranges (a unit that holds 24 bottles can be found for approximately $200) and can be found locally at almost any store that sells appliances. I have seen units that can store as few as six bottles or can hold up to several thousand. Another alternative is to build a refrigerated room in your house. This requires much planning and consideration for electrical, drains and insulation issues. There are several companies that custom design redwood racking systems that can easily be installed, once your room is built and the refrigeration unit is in place. Another issue in wine storage is how to preserve an open bottle of wine. Most of us have experienced the situation where we drank only a portion of a bottle of wine and shoved the cork back into it to save it, only to open it up the next day or so to discover that the wine didn’t taste very good. Wine begins to oxidize when it is exposed to air, and by putting the cork back into the bottle, you allow air to come into contact with the wine surface. But, it is possible to limit oxidation. There are a number of products designed to aid in storing an open bottle of wine for a few days up to a couple of weeks. One of my favorites is the Vacu Vin Wine Saver. It consists of a wine pump and bottle stopper. You place a stopper onto the open bottle and use the pump to remove air from inside the bottle. The pump and two stoppers cost less than $15 and can be found at most shops that sell wine accessories. Another popular method uses a gas to act as a barrier between the wine and the air. The Private Preserve Wine Saver lays a blanket of an inert gas that is taste-neutral into the opened bottle and then any type of wine stopper can be used. A can retails for less than $15. Both work well and over time will pay for themselves several times over. Jim Rawe, a family attorney in Bradenton, is an avid collector of fine wines. His column appears weekly. He can be reached at jimrawe@gmail.com
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