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| Ancient Wine Jars |
Storing wines to their best advantage has always been a concern among wine
lovers. Just last year archaeologists unearthed the remains of a 1700 BC
Canaanite palace in northern Israel and discovered the
remains of 40 large ceramic jars: Three-foot tall vessels that were once used for the storage of wine.
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| Modern Wine Room |
Today,
our choices have expanded from clay jars and wine skins to state-of-the-art
wine cellars, and temperature controlled wine rooms. But for the everyday wine
drinker, there are a few tricks of the trade to keep your wines distinct and ready to
drink. Here are 6 tips: Three for short-term preservation, and three for the
long haul storage.
Short Term Preservation:
1)
Put a cork in it! If
you find yourself with a half bottle of wine left over, you have a few
options. You can recork a bottle of
white wine bottle and place it in the fridge. For red wines, cork it and store the bottle
upright in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. This should buy you
another 2 to 5 days on the remainder of the wine.
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| Wine Vacuum Pump |
2)
Vacuum pumps specially made to remove the air from the bottle are another
option. With the pump, you remove the excess air, and then insert a special
cork to maintain freshness.
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| Inert Gas |
3)
Inert gas sprayed into the bottle will act as a blanket over the wine and
prevent oxidation from occurring. This is one of the methods commercial wineries
use to keep wines from oxidizing in tanks.
Long Term Storage:
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| Wine Library |
Depending
on the wine, most may be kept from 2 to 5 years: some for up to
10 years. If you’re storing wines for 20 years or longer, you are considered a
serious wine collector (and probably have your own wine cellar with temperature
controls.)
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| Metal Wine Rack |
4)
Rack’em up. There are multitudes of wine racks out there; metal, wooden, plastic,
in counter, above counter, on the counter: The choice is yours. Just consider how
many bottles you will be storing and how long you'll want to store them – a couple of
weeks, a month, a year. Quality wine racks are made so that the bottles are lying down with
the neck tilted down a bit more so the cork stays wet. (A wet cork stays sealed in the bottle. A dried out cork allows in air that
oxidizes the wine.)
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| Wine Fridge |
5)
Wine refrigerators can be a great investment for the white and fruit wine lover. These
units come equipped with built-in wine racks to keep your wines at the perfect
temperature for serving: 59 – 65º F for dry whites, Roses and blush. For Champagne
and sparking wines, serving temp is 43 – 47º F
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| Wine Cellar |
6)
Wine cellars and caves are the trend in new homes. A walk-in room that is kept cool, quiet, dark and dry is the perfect spot for aging red and white
wines. Ideal temperatures for long-term storage range between 50 and 55º F with
70% humidity being optimal. Invest in a climate controled unit that measures
temperature and humidity. Fluctuations in temperature can ruin a wine, as can too high of humidity, which causes mold to grow; but too dry and the cork can
shrink, letting air into the wine.
Red
wines that cellar well include robust, dry reds made from Cabernet,
Zinfandel, Syrah, Bordeaux; wines with heavy tannins.
Red
wines that don’t cellar well include Pinot Noir, Merlot and Grenache, along with any wine labeled as “light and fruity.”
For
most white and fruit wines, it’s normally suggested not to store them over two to
three years. These wines don't improve
with age, so buy them now to enjoy soon.
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| Wine Closet |
Wine
storage doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Space in your basement or a spare
closet might be adequate for short-term storage – five years or less. If wine has become a passion instead of a
hobby, you might want to go for a wine fridge, or a basement wine cellar. Just remember to keep your long-term wines
labeled with the purchase date and drink-by-date for maximum enjoyment.
~
Joy
3)
Visit the tour company’s web site or Facebook page; check their TripAdvisor reviews. If you like what you read,
call them and ask some questions. If they don’t or won’t take time to talk with
you on the phone, they probably won’t on the tour either. 
What
is included in the tour and price? Is it
a winery tour or a wine tasting tour? Is the tour company independent of any
winery? Will you meet the winemakers or winery owners? Do you get a souvenir glass to taste with and
keep? Is a meal or snacks available on
the route? Is food included in the
price? Is bottled water available? Who pays any tasting fees? Is tipping of the winery staff expected? Is there a discount on wine purchased on the
tour? Will your tour vehicle be locked during destination stops? Is there an
age restriction for tour participants? Are ID’s required in order to be served?
Are you limited to the number of bottles/cases of wine you can purchase on the
tour? Will the tour company assist you in shipping the wine back home? What is
the cancellation policy?
6)
Dress for the occasion: If you will be entering the winemaking facility on your
tour wear flats or sneakers (No heels!) because the floor may be wet and
slippery, and there will be drains in the floor covered with grids. Be on time
to the designated meeting area, relax, and have fun.
A
wine tour company should allow you to experience the local wines and get a
little taste of its terrior, wines, and hospitality. Wine tour companies are in
this business because they love sharing the winery adventure with others. Your
job is to just sit back, sip and enjoy!