If you enjoy drinking wine at home or you found a bottle of wine that you bought about 10 years ago, then this guide is for you. We have briefly discussed the facts you need to know about how to keep your wines at home. If you are not a wine expert, then we bet you are going to be surprised with some of the following information. By following these instructions, you can keep your wine fresh longer times and decide whether you can drink it or not. So, let’s take a look at them one by one.
Can You Age Every Wine?
The first thing you need to decide on is whether you want to keep your wine or age it. There is a common misconception that wine’s taste and value get better as its ages. However, not all wines are suitable to age. Only one perfect of the produced wines is suitable for aging and the rest of them must be quickly consumed. The grape type, harvest year and fermentation techniques are some of the elements that determine whether a wine is suitable for aging or not.
Should You Lean the Bottle or Keep It Standing?
You should lean your bottles while keeping them only if the real cork is used. In this way, the cork will get wet and increase in volume. This prevents oxygen leakage to the bottle, and you can keep your wine fresh for a longer time. Otherwise, the cork will get dry and let air into the bottle, which will result in spoilage. If the bottle has not a real cork, then you can keep it the way you want without any worries.
What Is the Optimum Room Temperature to Keep Wines?
If you are planning to age your wine, then the room temperature should be around 10-15 degrees Celsius. However, if you have no plans such as aging, then a room temperature between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius will be ideal.
What Is the Optimum Moisture Ratio to Keep Wines?
Moisture matters because it prevents the cork to be dried. In general, a moisture ratio between 50 and 80 percent is considered to be ideal. If the moisture ratio in the room will be under 50%, the cork will start to dry and allow air leakage into the bottle.
How Should the Lighting Be to Keep Wines?
Probably, this is the easiest condition to supply for your wines. Light is one of the worst enemies of wines and you need to keep your bottles away from any source of light, including home lighting. It is always recommended to keep your wines in dark places such as your kitchen cabinets or cellars.
Does Vibration Matter When Keeping Wines?
It is important to keep your wines away from your machines that cause vibrations often such as washing machines or dishwashers. Prolonged vibrations can speed up the chemical reactions between the ingredients of your wine.
My Wine Smells Bad, Can I Still Drink It?
Chemical components can seize through corks and if you smell anything bad, it will be better to stay away from that wine. Although they may include alcohol, they can cause severe side effects and illness.
Read Next: How to Make Wine At Home