Wine, just like many other products, is affected by certain factors over time and therefore compromises on its quality. Proper wine storage can ensure that these environmental factors do not affect the quality of a good wine. Temperature, air, light and variations are the factors that should be regulated for a wine to maintain its freshness. Of these factors, air is the most jeopardizing and all means should be put in place to keep it away. Air causes oxidation in the wine which then causes the quality of the wine to reduce. This makes the wine taste like vinegar and not wine. Glass bottles are impermeable to air and therefore using the right cork is the best way to ensure that air is locked out of a wine bottle. The cork should be moist enough to ensure that the only air in the bottle is the one during packing.

In addition, storing wine horizontally also ensures that the cork does not crack and therefore no air gets into the bottle. Humidity in a room is also known to cause corks moist and hence grow mildew or to dry up too much and therefore crack. Storing wine in a bottle proportionate to the wine is also important as there is less air in the bottle. If not completely consumed, it should be put in a smaller bottle that is proportionate to the wine. Wine bottles should also be kept in a place where there will be little or no movement that can cause vibrations. They should also not be moved too much until they are almost being served. This is mainly because vibrations causes the quality of the wine to reduce and should be avoided as much as possible.

Another factor to consider when storing wine is temperature. It should range from about 5-18°C to ensure that the cork does not shrink and therefore let in air or does not cause the wine to age faster than it actually should. Wine cellars can maintain the required temperatures and that is the reason most people use wine cellars for storage. However, wine cabinets can also be used when the room temperature is regulated. Although the average temperature is 5 to18°C, the rate at which it fluctuates can cause the wine to lose its freshness. The light that seeps through the wine bottle should also be reduced. However, many wine makers today use ultra violet filters when making their bottles. An unpleasant aroma will be created if there is too much light passing through the wine bottle.

John Black writes about many topics. For more information about wine visit http://www.thebestwinegifts.com

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