How to Store Red Wines

Wine racks and wine refrigerators are great ways to store red wine.

When talking about storing red wines, many people's first thoughts jump to an elaborate wine cellar meant to hold hundreds, or even thousands, of bottles. While a cellar is definitely a great option for those with the space, money and wine collection, a wine rack strategically placed in your home, or a moderately priced wine refrigerator, are both good starting points for novice wine collectors. Bottles kept for only a few weeks or months are impacted by the temperature, humidity and light in which they are stored.

Things You'll Need

• Wine rack
• Wine refrigerator
• Red wine

Instructions

Wine Racks

1. Purchase a wine rack that meets your wine-collecting needs. Racks are typically perfect for those with a small collection of wines, who drink their wine in weeks or months, rather than storing them for years.

2. Choose a spot in the interior of your home that does not get a lot of natural light and install the rack. When storing red wine, keep a constant temperature, have adequate ventilation and keep the wine in a dark area. Short of purchasing a wine refrigerator, following these steps will do the most to preserve the wine.

3. Store the bottles horizontally. This will keep the wine in contact with the cork, helping to ensure that no air gets into the bottles.

Wine Refrigerators

1. Many different sizes of wine refrigerators are available -- from 12-bottle coolers to systems that store more than 300 bottles -- as well as different styles and cooling options. If storage is your main concern, know that all wine is ideally aged at 55 degrees Fahrenheit, so a dual-temperature unit is not necessary.

2. Purchase the wine refrigerator and make sure to fully inspect the unit before beginning installation.

3. Choose the correct location in your home to install the wine refrigerator. This includes a space with adequate air circulation that is removed from all heat sources. Keep refrigerators out of damp areas like laundry rooms and bathrooms and make sure a standard electric socket is available to power the unit.

4. Store your wine according to the manufacturer's suggested layout for the best results. The wine refrigerator will keep a constant temperature and humidity level as long as it is plugged in.

References

• "Wine Enthusiast"; Winstom's Wisdom Blog; A Dual Zone Wine Cooler: The Right Choice For You?; Marshall T.; January 2011
• "Wine Enthusiast" Catalog

Resources

• Basic Wine Knowledge: Proper Wine Storage