Common Wine Storage Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

One of the joys of being a wine connoisseur is the opportunity to collect wine of different times and ages over time. However, it is essential to ensure that the wines collected are subjected to optimal storage conditions.

The collection, storage, and curation of fine wine have been a long-time art. While it can be an expensive venture, it can also be rewarding.

Despite its gains, a great deal of intellect and skill is needed to know intricate details about certain wines and their optimal storage conditions.

However, these skills aren’t innate; so long as you are willing to learn and adhere to specific rules, there’s no stopping you from your wine collection feat.

To have a long-lasting and worthwhile collection, here are wine storage mistakes you must avoid as much as possible.

Wine Storage Mistakes

1. Storing Wines At Any Temperature

Contrary to popular belief, all wines need to be stored in a temperature-controlled environment. While this might vary from one wine to the other, the temperature for each wine must be relatively consistent.

This is one of the reasons why wines are stored in a wine cellar, which is usually between 50-59 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s essential to ensure that your array of wines isn’t stored in areas whose temperature drastically fluctuates, such as the kitchen, living room, or dining room. This will prevent wines from halting due to a cold temperature and also prevent them from being expedited due to a warm temperature.

2. Using Strong Lighting

While your wine collection might look glamorous in the open, it’s doing more harm than good to the wine. The sun contains UV rays which can cause the wine bottle and the wine itself to prematurely age, altering the taste and aroma of the wine. It can also bring out flaws that otherwise won’t have presented themselves.

In addition, rays from the sun can fade the labels on the wine bottles. This is one of the things a wine connoisseur with an extensive wine collection should avoid.

It’s not enough to have a tinted wine bottle; you should further prevent your wine collection by storing it in a cool, dark place such as a wine cabinet, fridge, or cellar.

3. Too Much Or Too Little Humidity

Humidity plays a huge factor in the longevity of a wine collection. If a wine collection is exposed to too much humidity, it can facilitate mold growth, leading to a functional and aesthetic issue. On the other hand, if the humidity is too little, the cork can dry out, leading to an air entry and inevitably the wreckage of the wine.

4. Aging Wines

In contrast to popular opinion, not all wines need to be aged. Most wines are supposed to be drunk within two years after being purchased. Only a few wines can be aged and still retain their taste.

Finally, being a wine connoisseur can be a tasking venture, but it doesn’t have to be. Prevent your collection from going bad by adhering to the tips above, and you’ll be glad you did.