How to Store Red Wine

Wine enthusiasts know that proper storage is crucial to the preservation of a fine red wine. The same principals that go for expensive wines usually suit frugal wines as well.

Learning how to store red wine takes a little effort. It helps to become familiar with different types of red wine in order to make decisions on how to store red wine properly. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Basement or cool, dark area
• Red wines
• Wine rack
• Refrigerator

Learning about Red Wine

1. Get to know red wines. Different varieties of reds require different preparation before serving. Some wines are best at room temperature while others should be served with a slight chill.

2. Take note of wines that should be chilled. Among those that should be chilled for about thirty minutes are: Beaujolais, valpolicella, chianti and pinot noir. These wines are typically young and have less texture.

3. Remember that it is better to keep red wine over-chilled rather than over heated. Store red wine in higher temperatures and the result is a soupy mess. The wine can always sit out for awhile to get closer to room temperature.

Storing Red Wine

4. Store red wine in a cool, dark place. An underground basement is the ideal environment, hence wine cellars. Those who do not have basements do have other options to consider.

5. 

   Keep tabs on the temperature. Store red wine in an area that consistently stays between 55 and 65 degrees F. Overheating will make the wine age too quickly, ruining its composition.

6. Store red wine bottles on their sides. Ideally, the wine should touch the cork. This prevents the cork from drying out. This also prevents air from sneaking into the bottle. A moist cork is an indicator of a properly stored wine.

7. Consider preparing a closet to store red wines. This is ideal for homes that have no basements. The area should have some air circulation to prevent mold from growing. Special wine closets can be built for a nominal fee.

8. Consider renting storage for large collections of red wines. While this can be quite costly, it is often the safest approach to keeping very collectible wines in excellent condition.

Tips & Warnings

• Sniffing wine corks is unnecessary.
• A properly stored wine will have a cork that is moist to the touch.
• Old wood can cause wine corks to rot.
• Avoid putting red wine bottles in direct light.

Resources

• Aging Wine
• Into Wine

[joemoreira]

on 12/16/2007 hi
my merlot and pinot noir looks like a blush wine how do i make it darker.