Correct storage of wine after bottling is essential to preserve it in its best condition and to allow the wine to develop to its full potential.
If the wine is stored incorrectly, the subtle flavours and aromas that have been carefully balanced by the winemaker may be spoiled. Knowing the correct way to cellar and serve wine will help you get the most from your wine.
Why cellar wines?
Simply, most quality wines improve with age. Aged wine develops greater complexity, as the chemical reactions that occur during ageing add new aromas and flavours to the wine. Ideally, buy a reasonable quantity so that you can regularly assess the development of the wine over several years.
Do all wines benefit from cellaring?
Depending on the style of wine, some wines are best consumed when young and fresh, while others may benefit from cellaring. Early drinking styles are usually best consumed within 1 to 2 years of production. For example, sparkling wine is ready to drink when it is released onto the market, as it is at this stage when the winemaker considers it to be at its best. This also applies to tawny port. Because the ageing (maturation) process has been carried out in oak, further ageing is not required once the port has been bottled.
Most white wines and light-bodied reds are best consumed when young (1 to 3 years), as it is during this time that the primary fruit characters are at their most appealing. However, some wines are not at their best until they have had some years in the bottle. These are generally full-bodied quality reds, although some of our Rieslings, full-bodied Chardonnays and classic Hunter Valley Semillons may develop wonderfully well in the bottle. Of course, the potential for these wines to mature gracefully lies in the character of the fruit.
Before investing in wines for cellaring, check the back label prior to purchase. Most table wines will have an indication of cellaring potential on the back label. However, if you are unsure or have any enquiries, contact the wine company for further clarification.
How long will a wine improve in the bottle?
It is difficult to predict when a wine will be at its best. Do you enjoy a wine with the vibrant flavours of youth or the more mellow, softer complexity of a fully mature wine? Is your preference for a red wine with predominant primary fruit characters, or a more mature red, which gives impressions of coffee, cedar or tobacco and less tannic astringency? It is very much a case of individual taste.
It is important to remember that smaller bottles will mature more quickly than standard bottles or magnums, as the proportion of air in the ullage space to the volume of wine is higher.
Where is the best place to store my wines?
Wine is best stored under cool, dark, airy conditions, free from vibration, odours anddampness. A cellar need not be under the house. The single most important factor istemperature stability. Wines stored where the temperature varies gradually with the seasons are better off than wines stored in a room which is heated during the day and then allowed to cool to winter temperatures at night.
The ideal cellar temperature is 12-15oC with a relative humidity of 65-75%. It is worthwhile using a thermometer to monitor summer temperatures. It may be a cause for concern if the cellar temperature goes much over 18oC, as warm conditions will accelerate the development of your wines, possibly reducing the pleasure to be had from them.
Store wine on its side, ideally with the neck sloping slightly upwards so that the cork remains wet, the bubble of air is in the shoulder and any sediment will collect at the bottom of the bottle. This will make the wine easier to decant. Place the bottle with the label facing up or use written neck tags so you do not disturb a wine to identify it. Align the bottles so that the corks are visible - this will allow easy inspection for problems such as leakage.
Depending on the size of your cellar and your budget, your wines can be stored in either racks or boxes. There are various racking and storage systems available ranging from metal individual bottle storage racks through to custom-built wooden systems. Cardboard cartons in which wines are packed provide efficient insulation and also protect the wine from light. Another alternative, albeit an expensive one, is specially designed styrene boxes, which provide excellent insulation and double as wine racks.
Air conditioning and refrigeration may effectively reduce temperatures but will also reduce humidity causing cork shrinkage. Buckets filled with water and regularly topped up will usually solve this problem. Alternatively, several companies now offer cellaring cabinets of varying sizes, that are, effectively, modified refrigerators with humidity control and these same companies can also supply humidity control units for rooms.
It is important to note that your wines will mature more quickly if your cellaring conditions are not ideal.
Wine Storage Facilities
If you are unable to provide appropriate conditions for your wine and your wine is a significant investment, you may want to consider a professional wine storage company.
Contact numbers for providers are listed below.
Millers Wine Storage
http://www.millers.net.au/
Sydney: +61 2 9699 2300
Melbourne: +61 3 9417 1477
Brisbane: +61 7 3217 5555
Gold Coast: +61 7 5593 5993
Langtons
http://www.langtons.com.au/Service/Cellarage.aspx
Sydney: +61 2 9310 4231
Melbourne: +61 3 9662 3355
Wine Ark
http://www.wine-ark.com.au/
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Toll Free: 1800 111 275
We hope this information will enable you to gain increased enjoyment from your wine.
