One of the most important facets of wine and wine collecting is the proper storage for the all of it. Any savvy wine collector or drinker understands this. In terms of storage, many people have wine cellars, but these can be costly. Your home could also be ill equipped or lack space to support the building of a large wine cellar. This is why wine racks are growing in popularity. Like a wine cellar, wine racks can store wine bottles and help them mature in the proper conditions.
The historical assumption that wine was best served when it was young and fresh was incorrect. The reason this assumption came to be was due to the fact that wine was not properly stored. When wine was housed in dirty storage containers or exposed to air, the wine would acquire a vinegar taste as it aged. This was a poor wine storage practice, and is no surprise why early wine connoisseurs believed that newer wine equaled better taste. Wine is actually unlike other drinks, and food, in that it improves as it ages, and this only became apparent over time and error. With time and new processes, wine racks and wine storage improved; wines turned to fine wines, and it soon became clear that the manner in which wine racks were built was absolutely crucial to the development and taste of the wine. This is why the proper storage of wine, and therefore wine racks, is very important.
Wooden Wine Cabinet
As wine lovers know, the ideal place for storing wine is a wine rack. The proper storage is the only way to maximize a wine's true potential. Therefore, when choosing a wine rack for your wine storage, there are a number of things to consider. Size is definitely important and should reflect the wine lovers tastes and frequency. Smaller home wine racks can store from three to 48 bottles of wine. Material is also important: wine racks are most commonly available in wood and metal. Wine racks can also be refrigerated or not, and this choice should be contingent on the preference of wine: red wines are served at room temperature, while white wines are traditionally served cold.
Regardless of the type of wine, red or white, most wine experts will recommend that your wine rack maintain an average temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Although cooler temperatures won't damage your wine, they will slow its development and maturity. Warmer temperatures, 65 degrees Fahrenheit and up, definitely will damage your wine, particularly the longer it is store in the wine rack. Humidity is also a factor, so your wine rack should never be lower than 50% or higher than 70%. If your wine rack maintains a higher humidity, it may cause some mold to grow on the corks or bottles. Remember to also store your wine rack below ground level if possible, such as in a basement. However if you do not have this option, just store your wine rack in a place where the recommended temperatures and humidity can be maintained. This way your wine rack will take as good care of your wine as you would yourself.