Wine storage temperature & humidity
Wine storage temperature is one of the most important things to consider when aging your wine. Even wine kept for a few weeks or months can be affected by the temperature at which it is stored.
All wine is best stored between 45° – 60° F with 55° to 57° F being the optimal range to age red wine. Proper humidity is also important with the ideal range being 50-70%. Without the proper humidity your corks can crack or become overly saturated resulting in the spoiling of your wine. Historically, wine was stored in natural underground caves where the temperature was around 55° F with the proper humidity percentage. This is what you are aiming for in your home wine storage. Wine is alive, and proper aging is essential for the ideal maturation of your fine wines.
However, not everyone has a cellar for storing wine. If you live in a cooler climate, and have a bottle of red on your counter for a day or two, away from heat, it should be okay. If it is white wine, you can keep it in the refrigerator as a short term solution.
Wines age faster at a higher temperature, and chemically, a high temperature is bad for your wine. If the temperature is too cold it could slow down the aging process. Ideally you want a steady temperature and humidity level for your wine year round.
You can tell by the color of your wine if it has been damaged by improper storage and/or heat. The wine will be brown in color, not to mention it will taste of vinegar due to oxidation. To achieve the optimum temperature it is best to store your wines in a wine cellar or wine refrigerator. Wine refrigerators come in several different sizes and we have a wide variety on our website, www.winehardware.com. Depending on time and budget a custom wine cellar is always a great option. There are many ideal places in your home that can be transformed, such as underneath a staircase or in a closet.
With all that being said, happy wine is ideally stored in a natural cave, and if you don’t have access to one of those (who does), and you like to collect, it is a good idea to invest in a wine fridge or custom wine cellar for your home.
