Storing and collecting wine is a whole other process that wine connoisseurs and enthusiasts enjoy, sometimes as much as drinking it!
However, even people who only drink wine at special occasions might benefit from this blog post, which will help you understand the ideal storing conditions of all your favourite drops.
So whether you want to up your game and impress your friends with your re-configured wine cellar, or you simply want to preserve the taste of your wines by storing them properly, we’re sharing these simple tips you can start implementing right away!
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Are you supposed to put wine in the fridge?
If you don’t have a cellar or a wine cooler, then the traditional rule of thumb is that white wines go in the fridge and red wines go in the pantry (or wine rack).
However, ideally all wines should be kept in a cool place.
So if you do buy red wine and store it in the pantry, make sure it’s not too warm. If you live in a rather hot region, however, it might actually be best to store your red wine in the fridge.
You can check out our article on how to elevate your dining experience by mastering the art of wine and food pairings. From elegant dinners to casual gatherings, unlock the secrets to creating harmonious combinations that will leave a lasting impression on your guests.
What temperature should wine be stored at?
If you want to be more particular about wine storage for optimum taste, then you should be vigilant about where you stock your wine.
Red wine
Fuller-bodied red wines should be stored at slightly warmer temperatures than most others – about 16ºC. These types of wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Port, and any other fortified wines like the Boronia Marsala.
Lighter-bodied red wines are ideally kept at cooler temperatures – around 12ºC. Lighter varieties include Pinot Noir or Grenache.
Most white wines, including fruitier, drier, or bubblier wines, should get stored at around 9ºC. These whites include Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, sparkling, and Prosecco. Colder temperatures maintain the carbonation of these wines.
How long should you keep wine after opening it?
You can still drink wine for days or even weeks after opening, if it’s kept in optimal conditions.
However, if you want to enjoy the same taste as when you first opened it, these are some durations to remember:
- Sparkling wines will last 1-2 days after opening
- Most other white wines will last 3-5 days after opening
- Red wines will last 3-5 days (and some might even taste better after a few days!)
- Fortified wines – that is wines with a spirit – can last for at least a month, as the spirit preserves it
Once opened, all wine needs to be stored in a fridge or wine cooler.
How long can unopened wine be kept?
Before opening, wine can be kept for months and even years. To get a better idea, you need to take note of the Vintage and the description.
“The Vintage” is the name of the year printed on the label, and this indicates the year the grapes were harvested.
When stored in the right conditions, wine can safely be opened and enjoyed years after you buy it.
People often buy wine with the intention of keeping and maturing it, such as the Lacryma Christi, which has good cellaring potential.
Sometimes wine actually requires a lot of time and maturation to reach its optimal taste, such as the Taurasi wine, which is ideal for long-term cellaring.
How important is wine storage?
Proper wine storage is essential to ensure that wine retains its quality and flavour. Wine is a delicate and complex beverage that can be easily affected by light, temperature, humidity, and vibration.
Good wine storage practices can help preserve and enhance the taste, aroma, and texture of wine, allowing it to be enjoyed to its fullest potential.
What is the proper way to store wine?
Here are four simple steps you can take to ensure you can protect the taste and quality of your wine.
1) Ensure your wine is protected from direct sunlight
Sunlight reacts to the compounds in wine, breaking them down and altering the original, bitter-sweet taste. This is why you need to avoid storing your wine anywhere where sunlight might impact its taste.
The sun ages wine faster from the UV rays. Did you know that fluorescent light bulbs can also emit UV rays? So if you’re storing wine in a walk-in pantry, for example, you might want to consider swapping out the fluorescent lighting.
The sun is one of the reasons why red line bottles, like Barolo red wine, are made out of dark coloured glass! This design element prevents excessive light from penetrating the bottle.
2) What humidity is best for wine?
Wine should ideally be stored within a humidity of about 70%.
Low humidity can create dry conditions, which can dry out the cork and cause it to shrink, allowing moisture and air to get into the bottle and affect the taste.
3) Why are wines traditionally stored on their side?
Wine connoisseurs prefer to store wine on their sides because that way some of the liquid rests on the cork.
When storing wines up right, the cork gets no internal moisture and can dry out, which, as above, may cause it to shrink which lets air into the bottle.
4) How often should you rotate wine bottles?
Some people rotate wine bottles to dampen the other side of the cork. People also do this to stop sediment from settling on one side.
But rotating the bottle can mix the sediment which can negatively affect the taste.
It’s not necessary to rotate your wine bottles, however many people still choose to.
Where can I buy wine online?
Shop all your favourites with I Like Wine!
I Like Wine has a brilliant range of online wine sales in Australia.
So if you’re looking to buy Italian wine online to fill up your wine rack or want to buy white wine varieties for an upcoming dinner party, we’ve got you covered!
You may also explore the versatility of white wines for cooking and how to cook with wine to elevate your culinary creations.
We deliver the world’s best white wine, red wine, and spirits such as whisky direct to your door, anywhere in Australia!
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