Do You Know How to Store Your Favorite Wine?

A few years ago all I knew about storing wine was doing what I was told at a wine tasting trip up to the Napa/Sonoma Wine Country. Store white wine no longer than three years and two is preferred. No problem - although I prefer red wine, my friends were happy to drink up all the white wine for me.

Now, I like to think I've become a bit of a wine connoisseur and I've checked into the best way to store my wine. I've also seen a wine cellar built into the kitchen cabinets at a friend's home, but, every spring the husband has to move the wine to a cooler spot. And, my aunt gave my uncle a custom built wine cellar costing several thousands of dollars. Well, that was several thousands of dollars over my budget.

So, here is what I've found out…

Experts say white wine should not be stored for more than two years and a red wine costing under $20 or so should only be kept for three years. Well, my uncle with the wine cellar has dozens of bottles of red wine which cost way less than $20 (although, some were from many years ago) and many of them are superb when he opens them. And, a few are downright horrible. We've all learned to taste before we pour. And, a few, very few, do get poured - right down the drain.

There are three important things to know about storing your wine - a steady temperature that's fairly cool and dark is necessary. And, the wine should always be stored so that the liquid reaches the cork so the cork doesn't dry out. A closet, a basement, a kitchen cabinet (away from the stove/oven please) or even under a bed will work. If you're drinking the wine within a month or so, just a spot in your liquor cabinet will suffice.

I have a few bottles in a small fancy wrought iron wine rack in my living room but it's cool in my house and it's out of the direct sunlight. The rack is fashioned so the bottles are stored facing down, keeping the corks damp.

If you're keeping a wine more than three years it should be put into a cellar so that aging will actually improve the wine in the bottle. (Hmm, then why does some of that wine my uncle has had for 20+ years taste so horrible?) That means keeping it in a dark place, with an ideal temperature of no more than 55F degrees. Temperatures to 65F degrees will work for wines being stored up to ten years. You also want your wines to be in a room that is humidity controlled.

I've seen compact wine refrigerators at gourmet kitchen and cabinet stores. They're fairly small but hold many bottles of wine, and look very nice. Very convenient, also.

Now, I think it's time for a glass of "vino."