Regions of France
Regions of Spain
Regions and areas from the world
Conditions
Keeping wine safe
Keeping wine safe means taking care of:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Light
- Movements
- Bad smells
Conditions
Wine can be stored satisfactorily between 7-18 °C (45-65 °F) as long as any variations are gradual. A temperature of 13 °C (55 °F), much like what is found in the caves used to store wine in France, is ideal for both short-term storage and long-term aging of wine. Note that wine generally matures differently and more slowly at a lower temperature than it does at a higher temperature.[citation needed] Between 10-14 °C (50-57 °F), wines will age normally.
Debate on humidity
Some wine experts debate the importance of humidity for proper wine storage. In the Wine Spectator, writer Matt Kramer noted a French study which claimed that the relative humidity within a bottle is maintained 100% regardless of the closure used or the orientation of the bottle. However, Alexis Lichine says that low humidity can be an problem because it may cause organic corks to dry prematurely. An inch of gravel covering the floor periodically sprinkled with a little water was recommended to retain the desired humidity.
Active vs Passive
Wine cellars can be either active or passively cooled. Active wine cellars are highly insulated and need to be properly constructed. They require specialized wine cellar conditioning and cooling systems to maintain the desired temperature and humidity. In a very dry climate, it may be necessary to actively humidify the air, but in most areas this is not necessary. Passive wine cellars must be located in naturally cool and damp areas with minor seasonal and diurnal temperature variations—for example, a basement in a temperate climate. Passive cellars may be less predictable, but cost nothing to operate and are not affected by power outages.
Movements
Wine doesn't like vibrations and violent shocks. If you can, turn your bottles to view directly the label to avoid moving them when you want to choose a wine
Bad smells
Wine doesn't like bad smells, they can distort their nose. Avoid keep petroleum cans, onions near your wines.