Guide For Home Storage Of Sauvignon Blanc And Other Beloved Spirits And Wines
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 are one of the lucky ones, you probably have a home cellar or at least iron wall wine racks to hold your precious hoard of Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Chablis. Yes, wine, as wine never fails to warm the heart, making it very hard for one to be morose or sad with it around. Some folks show preference for a Gallo, others prefer a Robert Mondavi. Still others would swear Australian wines are the best, while others would tell you it’s South African, Chilean, or French. The preferences may vary, but the means of storing wine at home remains the same.
Not All Wines Should Be Stored.
The length of time a wine can be kept depends on the type of wine. Many spirits are of the kind that does not keep well for a long time, while other wines 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 types of wine that comes packaged in a bottle that is constructed from any material other than glass.
Other wines of this type include Gallo, Hardy’s, and Jacobs Creek, as well as French wines marked “Nouveau” and “Vin du pays” the German QBA, and all other wines labeled “table wine.”
Keep Only Wines That Have the Potential to Improve Over Time.
Even though your preferred wine wall decor or wine metal art will keep forever, you should seek professional advice when it comes to how long you can store your favorite wines. 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
Place your wine racks where the temperature does not fluctuate wildly – anywhere between nine and fifteen degrees Celsius, with eleven the ideal.
Humidity
Around 70% is optimal; lower than that and the cork can dry out, which permits oxygen to get in and turns your wine to vinegar. Allowing humidity to drop too much, while not harming your wine, will cause the labels to rot, making it impossible for you to know which are prized labels and which are not, a prospect too horrible to contemplate.
Light
If it gets warmer than 25 degrees Celsius, your wine will be rendered unfit for even cooking, let alone to be enjoyed off the wine glass, so keep your treasure trove away from sunlight or any other artificial light.
Vibration
Wine is best stored in a vibration-free surrounding, so place your iron wall wine racks in a basement room.
Equipment
Make sure your iron wall wine racks have compartments big enough for a Champagne bottle. Position these in an area with no access to obvious odors.
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Tags: storing wines, wall decor, Wine Racks, wine wall art
