Let's Talk about Wine Storage
Wine Storage and Serving Temperatures
At David George, we admire those individuals who carefully curate and maintain their wine collection over a lifetime, perhaps even generations. Like most people, however, we tend to store wine for only a few years before finding a good reason to pop the cork and enjoy. Here are a few wine storage guidelines we follow:
Keeping wine storage temperatures higher than 70° F will accelerate the wine aging process which is usually undesirable. If the wine gets much warmer than 70°, your wine may develop flat aromas and flavors. The ideal temperature range is between 45° F and 65° F though this range is not a perfect science since the aging of wine is dependent on many variables. Generally accepted storage practice is to maintain wine at a consistent temperature of 55 ° F. Even if your storage temperature runs a few degrees warmer, however, you will not likely to experience any degradation in wine quality if you are consume the wine within a few years of its release.
Keeping wines in a standard, kitchen refrigerator is acceptable for a few months, but it’s not a good long term solution. Average kitchen refrigerator temperatures are typically below 40° F to safely store foods, colder than desired for optimal wine storage. The lack of humidity can also be a problem, potentially drying out corks, which could allow air to seep into the bottles and damage the wine. Also, don’t store your wine where it could freeze (an unheated garage in winter). If the liquid starts freezing, it could expand and push the cork out.
Try to maintain a consistent temperature range even if you cannot get a perfect 55 ° F. There is no need to worry about minor temperature fluctuations; wines have likely seen worse temperature swings in transit from the winery to the cellar. However, for long term storage try to maintain a +/- 5 ° F temperature range no matter what average temperature.
Sunlight can pose a potential problem for long-term storage. The sun’s UV rays can degrade and age wine. One of the reasons why vintners use colored glass bottles is to reduce exposure to light. Light from household bulbs probably won’t damage the wine itself, but can fade your labels.
Wine should be stored at an ideal humidity level of 70 percent. Dry air will dry out the corks, which would let air into the bottle and spoil the wine. Humidity levels between 50 percent and 80 percent humidity are safe. Too much humidity will cause damp conditions which can promote mold. Mold won’t affect a properly sealed wine, but can damage the labels and create a bad impression of the bottle's contents.
Finally, there are preferred serving temperatures for most wines. The simple rule is whites are served at 50 ° F and reds are served at 60 ° F. Sparkling wines are served a little below 50 ° F while ports are served at temperatures above 60 ° F. The heavier whites and lighter reds are served closer to 55 ° F.