Wine Storage Buying Guide
Wine 
storage is a key component in guaranteeing that the first experience with a bottle of wine is enjoyable. Storage facilities such as cases, racks, and units are all designed to keep wine tasting optimum. Like a person, wine can get better with age or reach its prime in the early stages, so it is important to understand which conditions are specific to achieving the best experience with your wine. Factors to consider when storing wine are temperature, placement of storage facilities, and timing. Look at some wine storage tips for helpful ways to keep wine safe and consume it at its best. For temporary and travel storage take a look at our guide to electric wine chillers and storage units.
Wine Racks
Wine racks can be conspicuous or decorative, depending on an individual's style and needs. They are constructed in various shapes, materials and sizes to accommodate both
the personal collector or the commercial seller. Although many things differ from one facility to another something that is important for each one is that it should store wine horizontally to keep the cork moist. This prevents air from reaching the interior of the bottle. For the economically savvy, there are metal and wire racks. For those who wish to sell their wine or demand only the best storage, dark woods such as maple or mahogany absorb moisture and are the most protective of a bottle's contents. Softwoods can also be a good choice if purchased from a reliable seller. Due to their light weight, they are easy to transport, but they do tend to warp more readily than their hard wood relatives.
Most racks can come in pre-fabricated and do-it-yourself kits for the wine loving amateur architect. Just don't forget to place your rack in a cool, dark area, an environment that encourages the best taste.
Wall Mounted Racks
 | For the wine collector looking to display their wine but with only a limited amount of space, a wall mounted rack is something to think about. Like traditional racks, the wall mounted rack comes in different shapes, sizes and materials. It creates an easy venue for wine entertaining, or a showcase for displaying a proud owner's collection. These installations can be quite interesting as a multi-purpose art piece. |
Counter Top Racks
| A different approach to saving space (or filling space) is by purchasing a countertop rack. Whether your knife block is pitifully lonely next to the refrigerator, or you hardly have room for Uncle Ned's ancient ice chest, this might be a suitable option. The countertop rack has all the properties of a standing storage rack, but it is more compact. It can hold four bottles or twenty four in case you are entertaining or just need to entertain yourself. |  |
Diamond Bins
 | Not all storage facilities are able to house every different shape and size wine bottle, but a diamond bin is pretty versatile. The bins can be stacked for use in a wine cellar or they can be used individually for a smaller collection. Each diamond can hold several bottles so be weary of the type of wood that is used to make the bin. A sturdy wood is necessary due to the weight of the bottles.
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Wine Cabinets
| Commonly camouflaged as a serving table, the wine cabinet blends in perfectly with other furniture. Some types may come with a lock and key feature, a protective device useful for guarding the contents against thieving winos. Because let's face it: Granny may look innocent--until she is shacked up in a closet with your ten years aged reserve Chianti. The most important thing to remember when storing items this way is that although it looks like regular furniture, feels like regular furniture, and may even taste like regular furniture, the cabinet contains wine. This means it cannot be placed in a sun room simply because it looks charming next to the hibiscus plant. Cabinets, along with all other means of wine storage must be kept in a temperature around 58-59 degrees Fahrenheit (14.5-15 degrees Celsius) and 70 per cent or higher humidity. It is also good to keep anything containing wine away from strong odours because strong odours can infiltrate the bottle and bind to the liquid. No one wants to relax with a sip of yesterday's gym clothes. |  |
Free Standing Wine Cellars
| Not many people have room to create a wine cellar for personal use, but if a wine cellar is the aim, a free standing wine cellar may be the key. These devices recreate the environment found in a wine cellar so that one can have a perfect space for constant preservation. The one thing that the free standing wine cellar has against all other storage facilities is the ability to be transported to any area and still keep wine tasting and ageing correctly. The portable wine cellar is pricey especially for the larger ones, but if money is not an option, than this storage unit requires little maintenance and has the benefit of ensuring good wine. Unless it breaks of course. |
Related Guides and Products
External Links
- Scribd.com: A document describing the best storage options and conditions for wine.
- Cellarnotes.net: A useful guide for storing wine.
