Many people hurtle through life at warp speed only to come to its end wondering what it is all about. A few lucky ones have learned the art of quietly (and literally) savoring life so that when it’s about to be over, one feels like he’s lived a thousand years.
If you’re one of those lucky ones, you probably have at home a cellar, or at least iron wall wine racks to hold your hoard of Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Chablis. Yes, wine, because wine never fails to warm the heart, making it very difficult for one to be morose or sad with it around. Some people prefer a Gallo, others like a Robert Mondavi. Still others would swear that Australian wines are the best, while still others would say that wines from France, Chile, or South Africa are the best around. The preferences may vary, but the means of storing wine at home remains the same.
Not All Wines Should Be Kept.
How long a wine should be stored depends on the type. Many wines are of the type that does not keep for very long, while others can be kept for twenty, sometimes thirty years. As a rule of thumb, wine under US$8 would not benefit from long storage. Neither will wine which come in a container other than glass.
Other wines of this kind include Gallo, Hardy’s and Jacob’s Creek, as well as wines from France labeled “Nouveau” and “Vin du pays” the German QBA, and all other wines marked “table wine”.”
Keep Only Wines That Have the Potential to Improve Over Time.
While your favorite wine wall decor or wine decor will keep forever, you should seek advice on how long your favorite wine keeps. As a rough guide, here’s how long the popular ones may be stored:
Zinfandel 2-7 years
Shiraz 2-15 years
Pinot Noir 2-10 years
Cabernet Sauvignon 2-20 years
Merlot 2-10 years
Chardonnay 2-6 years
Sauvignon blanc 2-4 years
Chenin blanc 2-30 years
Temperature
Your wine racks should be placed where the temperature doesn’t vary wildly, anywhere between nine and fifteen degrees Celsius, with eleven degrees being the ideal storage temperature.
Humidity
About 70% would be best; any lower and the cork sometimes will dry out, which permits oxygen to get in and turns your wine to vinegar. If the humidity drops too much, it may not harm the wine, but it can cause the labels to rot, which makes it impossible for you to tell which wines are prized and which are not.
Light
If it warms up past 25 degrees Celsius, your wine will be made not fit even for cooking, let alone to be consumed in a wine goblet, so keep your treasured wines away from sunlight or artificial light.
Vibration
Wine is best stored in a vibration-free surrounding, so place your iron wall wine racks in a basement room.
Equipment
Be sure that your iron wall wine racks have compartments that are big enough to securely hold a bottle of champagne. Place these in a place with no access to strong odors.
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