Grape Expectations
“Wine is a living liquid containing no preservatives. Its life cycle comprises youth, maturity, old age, and death. When not treated with reasonable respect it will sicken and die,” cautioned Julia Child. If you want to keep your wine alive and accessible here’s a few tips for storing and organizing this treasured libation. — by Pam Marquis
Tasting room
If your collection is well ordered you’ll effortlessly find that perfect bottle to complement a romantic dinner or an impromptu wine tasting. To achieve this begin by creating an inventory; it will give you some perspective on what you have and what you need. Then sort your reds, whites, and sparklings. Next group the varietals together, separating your Merlots from your Pinot Noirs. Finally, break down varietals by vintage, noting a particular region. To store your collection, this beautiful 84-bottle wine rack from Wayfair could provide a good foundation.
Tools of the trade
Tag it and Track it
Whether you have 50 or 5,000 wine bottles, bottle tags, such as the ones from Wine Enthusiast, are a great organizational tool. Also, consider using technology such as CellarTracker, an app that tells you exactly where your bottle of 2010 Château Faizeau Montagne-Saint-Emilion is and when the best time is to drink it.
Storage Options
Calling in the Pros
Perhaps you would you rather outsource your wine storage to further protect your investment. Self Storage & Wine Cellar in Elmwood has a 730-square-foot cellar with 70 mahogany lockers that come in three different sizes to accommodate up to 64 cases of wine. It keeps the wine cellar at approximately 55 degrees and 70 percent relative humidity.
Temperature Control
Sideways
According to John Keife with the wine store Keife & Co., it’s best to store wine on its side to make sure the cork won’t dry out. Leora Pearl of Pearl Wine Co., says to store wine in a location that never gets above 72 degrees. “You definitely do not want anything in direct sunlight,” she says. “Any extreme temperatures are going to damage the wine.” Perhaps storing your wine in a wine-cooling credenza is the stylish way to go.
