5 Tips for Storing Red Wine
Red wine is delicious. It's my favourite alcoholic beverage, aside from a classic G&T. But when it comes to storing red wine, there are some rules that you need to follow to keep it at its best. Whether you're a casual red wine drinker or an avid collector, then here are some tips for storing red wine effectively.
1. Keep the bottles somewhere cool
Temperature fluctuations can harm red wine. This is because it causes it to expand and contract which can push corks out from the neck or let air seep in, causing the wine to go off. An ideal temperature for storing red wine is between 13-16 degrees Celsius.
Avoid areas near ovens, radiators, heaters and windows, so as to ensure the bottles don't come into contact with direct sunlight. Heat can very quickly spoil the red wine you have, so it's important to follow this rule whether it's corked or a screw top.
2. Store red wine horizontally
Although widely debated, red wine should be stored horizontally. This is to keep the corks moist so that air doesn't enter, therefore oxidising the wine. While screw-top red wines don't need to be stored horizontally, it's always best to adopt the same rule as it won't do it any harm if it's sealed properly.
3. Don't keep bottles in direct sunlight
Avoiding sunlight is imperative when it comes to storing red wine. UV rays can break down wine compounds, therefore leading to premature ageing and flavours that are sour and vinegary. You need to keep bottles in dark places, like in cupboards, in a wine rack in a wine cellar or a fridge with UV-resistant doors. I just keep mine in the wine rack at the end of the kitchen, away from any windows.
4. Try to control the humidity
Wine corks need moisture in order to stay properly sealed. If the humidity is too low, the cork will dry out and mould can grow. It can also let in a small amount of air, which causes the wine to oxidise prematurely. To keep your cork working at its best, make sure humidity is between 50-70%. You can buy humidity readers for good measure. Please note, this isn't relevant with wine that has a screw top.
5. Limit exposure to air
This is especially important if you've opened the red wine and you're nursing it over several days. When the bottle has been opened, the wine begins to oxidise. In order to preserve an open bottle of red wine for longer, you should recork it, use a wine stopper or screw the cap back on securely. You should also store the open bottle upright and don't be afraid to refrigerate red wine, either.
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I hope you enjoyed this blog post and that you found it useful? Let me know in the comments if you have any other tips for storing red wine, I'd love to know. Also, if you're interested in how to keep an OPEN bottle of red wine fresh for as long as possible, take a look at one of my latest blog posts here. I'll see you all again very soon with some brand new content!
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