| |
| |
|
Wine & Spirits Information |
|
|
|
Start Your Wine Cellar The Right Way
One of the great joys of wine is to be able to select a bottle from your own cellar, perhaps one that you've been storing for some years, draw the cork and enjoy it with friends. You can marvel at the changes brought on by maturity and, as a bonus, you can brag about the price you paid and congratulate yourself on picking up such a bargain!However, wine is an ever-changing thing and how it is stored will directly affect how quickly and how well it ages!Storing wine is very simple ?It requires a constant temperature, humidity, darkness, stillness and a well-ventilated and clean environment. ? InsulationThe first essential is to create a storage environment that provides the basics of stable temperature, no light and no vibration.In general terms 4? (100mm) of polystyrene is the equivalent to 3 ft (1 meter) of ground. So if you're trying to decide between an above ground construction and an underground cavern, you must be prepared to dig deep for the latter.Your cupboard, indoor space or your outdoor construction must be well shaded, well insulated and with the minimum of air movement in and out. ? TemperatureThe objective is to provide stored wines with a constant temperature of between 50ºF and 59ºF (10°C - 15°C).Seasonal changes in temperature will not harm your wine, although fluctuations greater than one degree a week should be avoided.Wines subjected to temperatures over 77ºF (25°C) are in grave danger of rapid deterioration.Wines stored in less than ideal conditions will age at speeds quite different to those envisaged by winemakers when they offer suggested storage times. A hygro thermometer will provide you with accurate information as to both the temperature and humidity ranges within your cellar.A well-constructed above ground cellar or a well dug underground cellar will require the minimum of additional temperature control although your climate or the position of your cellar may necessitate the use of a cooling device that will provide complete temperature stability.Another alternative is a temperature controlled wine cabinet. Some of these can hold up to 800 bottles but be aware that some manufacturers' suggested bottle capacity can be misleading and the racks may be smaller than you require. Champagne bottles are larger than riesling bottles!Regard assembled wine as your best cooling block. A high density of wine bottles will reduce wine temperature fluctuations.Consider keeping your long-term wines in a professional storage facility if your cellar cannot conform to the optimum temperature ranges. ? HumidityA dry atmosphere is an enemy of the natural cork seal. A natural cork is compressed and forced into the bottle as a 100% natural seal.Low humidity combined with a defective cork results in the wine moving out of the bottle (increasing ullage) and air naturally moving into the bottle.Moderate humidity is important to keep the cork in good resilient condition and prevent it shrinking. Screw capped bottles do not require humidity.Excessive humidity will not harm the wine but can cause the labels to go moldy. The ideal humidity for your cellar is 70%, however anywhere between 50-80% is acceptable. ? DarknessLight will prematurely age a bottle of wine. Clear bottles are most susceptible to this problem, but ultraviolet light will penetrate even dark colored glass.Ultraviolet light will damage wine by causing the degradation of the otherwise stable organic compounds, especially the tannins found in wine. These organic compounds contribute to the aroma, flavor and structure of the wine. Without them your wine would be flat and thin.So exposure to ultraviolet light results in unfavorable and irreversible changes in your wine.Extra care should be given to sparkling wines as they are more sensitive to light than other wines. ? Lay it down!Store your wine bottles horizontally so the wine is in contact with the cork. This will keep the cork wet. If the cork dries out and shrinks it will let air get to your wine. Store it with the label facing up. This will help in three ways:You can easily see what the wine is. You don't have to disturb the bottle to see what you've got in your cellar.The sediment will form on the opposite side to the label and make it easier to see.The label is less likely to be damaged. If you're storing wine as an investment, a damaged label will reduce the value. Chris Miley is the creator of the very popular book "How To Build And Start Your Own Wine Cellar" which includes complete instructions for building your own basement wine cellar plus many other ideas for wine storage areas in your home, from a cupboard under the stairs to a temperature controlled wine cabinet. Go to http://www.winecellarsecrets.com to find out more about building your own wine cellar
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Who Made the First Wine Anyway? Although details are understandably sketchy, it is believed that, around 6000 BC, grapes were being grown and wine was being made in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq).Mesopotamia and EgyptWine was popular with the pharaohs of ancient Egypt from about 3000 BC onwards. Gewurztraminer Wine Gewurztraminer is an excellent and unique grape variety that is capable of producing some of the world's greatest and most memorable Gewurztraminer wine. Gewurztraminer wine has inspired flavor comparisons to lychee, rosewater, honeysuckle, mango, papaya, coconut, apricot, peach, and Jamaican allspice. The Stuff of Poetry - Mead People have been drinking fermented beverages since the dawn of civilization. At first, the production of alcohol may have been accidental. Tasting Wine Wine Tasting Component I: LookThe first step you have to undertake in wine tasting is visual.1. Food - Wine Pairing Tips For French and Italian Wines Many people are intimidated by the task of selecting wine in a fine restaurant. This article is intended to provide a simple guide that will enable anyone to feel confident enough to choose a wine that will impress their dinner guests. Alchoholism, A Major Diesease? Alcoholism can be given a lot of definitions and all of them stress the fact that there is a terrible disease that involves addiction to spirits. Apart from the physical dependence on alcohol, there are other psychological, genetic and social factors that may play a role in the development of alcoholism. An Idiots Guide To Wine Tasting Have you ever seen those stiff upper-lipped types doing a spot of the old wine tasting malarkey? You know the form - sip, swill, spit. Yuck! Well this information has been written to help you understand the form should you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to know what to do. Wine Tasting Wine Tasting Component I: LookThe first step you have to undertake in wine tasting is visual.1. Wine Etiquette With Ease Correct wine etiquette makes the tasting experience much more enjoyable. Like most interests, there is a set of protocol that most wine lovers adhere to. Champagne Champagne is without question the finest sparkling wine made in the world. Champagne is the name of the wine region located about 90 miles northeast of Paris. Wine Tasting -- The Traditional Way Wine tasting is properly known as 'Wine Degustation'. It is the art of being able to note the various differences between difference types of wine, and even the various differences between the vintages of the same type of wine. What is Corked Wine? Keeping a wine bottle sealed is probably the most important factor when it comes to maintaining a good wine.A cork is essential, as it keeps oxygen out of the wine bottle. Hosting A Wine Tasting Party As your love and knowledge of wine grows, it is inevitable that you will want to share your revelations with friends and family. Hosting a wine tasting party is a great way to do this. Wine and Your Health During the 1990s, a physician voiced on a national TV show that drinking red wine reduces heart disease. It made all the headlines. Wine Making and Home Brewing: Whats the Deal? When it comes to making alcoholic beverages at home, wine making and home brewing is considered sort of a 'niche' market. You either know how to do it or you don't! This is very hard to believe as wine making and home brewing has been going on for thousands of years. Pairing Beer With Food Pairing beer with the fine cuisine has recently come to the attention of many eating establishments as they try to cater to the 90's micro-brew crowd. No longer is wine considered the only drink fit for a succulent entree. Overcoming Red Wine Spills Red wine spills can be a disaster whether they occur in your home or onboard your $43 million executive jet as members of our corporate flight attendant web community are quick to point out. Taking care of a spill is another thing, but we have discovered two "tried and true" solutions to the problem. If You Plan On Drinking, Do These Critical Things Before You Leave The House Buy a BreathalyzerA Breathalyzer is a portable hand-held device in which youblow, that measures your blood alcohol level. Many goodbreathalyzers can be purchased on-line. The Harmony Between Food and Wine Wine is a social drink which should be enjoyed in the company of friends and .. Barbera Wine Barbera is a wine grape variety from Monferrato in Piemonte, Italy. Babera produces an intense red wine with deep color, low tannins and high acid and is used in California to provide "backbone" for so-called "jug wines".
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
