Drinking and collecting wine is an art that has been developed over thousands of years. For wine connoisseurs and collectors, a good wine should be allowed to develop like a living, breathing thing that is appreciated for its complexity and variations.
Proper wine storage is intimately tied to a wine’s tastes and complexity. Wine collectors can protect their investment and ensure it develops to its full potential by following some basic guidelines related to humidity, temperature, and length of fermentation which are the key factors responsible for subtle variations in flavour, taste, and quality, providing a wine with its individuality.
Perfect storage conditions for a wine collection can be hard to pin down, even for the most seasoned and sophisticated collectors. The right storage for a wine depends on many factors, which includes the wine itself. Here are some of the tips that should be followed for optimal wine storage.
Few things can degrade a vintage wine quicker than warm temperatures. Higher temperatures speed up the ageing process of wine and can often strip a wine of its essence, leaving it with a flat aroma and flavour. Cooler and consistent temperatures between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius (50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit) are best for preserving wines. Changes or fluctuations in temperature can and do have a negative impact on wine.
There’s a reason why wine was stored in dark cellars for hundreds of years. Light can degrade wine and speed up the aging process. While sunlight is particularly bad, many indoor lights can also impact on the quality of a bottle of wine. When wine is being stored for a long period, keep the exposure to light minimal.
Maintaining recommended humidity levels in your wine storage area is important. Too little humidity can dry out corks and lead to “corked wines,” while too much humidity can lead to mold problems. Ideally, the humidity levels in a wine storage environment should be kept between 65 and 75 percent.
Wine racking holds wine horizontally for a reason. By storing wines on their sides, collectors can keep wine corks from drying out which prevents wines from becoming “corked”. Sophisticated wine racking systems will not only keep wine horizontal but will also minimize vibrations that can unsettle a wine’s texture.
To keep a wine collection at its best, it needs to be stored in a controlled environment. A wine cellar is not just a luxury anymore—for wine connoisseurs, having a separate wine room is the only way to ensure that the optimal conditions for a vintage wine collection are being respected.
With a professionally designed wine cellar, factors like temperature, humidity, and lighting can be controlled, allowing for the best maturation of vintage wines.
Cooling systems can preserve and protect wine collections from conditions that can potentially degrade their quality while tasteful racking systems can not only help preserve wines but present them in an elegant and sophisticated manner.
A proper wine room does not just preserve, protect, and enhance your wine; it also expresses your personality, ties into the design of your home, and makes for a luxury addition to your property. Wine cellars can combine aesthetics with functionality.
Papro Wine Cellars & Consulting offers an array of wine storage options in Toronto and beyond. We specialize in designing and constructing luxury wine rooms and cellars that integrate your personal tastes into a fully functional space that can preserve and enhance your wine and add value to your home.
Our consultants have designed some of the finest wine cellars in the world, following a three-phase process to fully develop a space according to our clients’ preferences, tastes, and considerations. Our designs can incorporate a range of sophisticated cooling systems, racking systems, and features that provide the best in luxury, functionality, and aesthetics.
With over 20 years’ experience in construction and eight years of specializing in wine cellars, Papro Wine Cellars and Consulting provides the expertise and guidance needed to create functional, luxury wine cellars and wine cabinets that meet homeowners’ individual tastes, needs, and considerations. Contact us today for more information on how we can help homeowners add value and luxury to their homes.