Keep Wine Quality with a Specialty Storage Facility
Wine is one of the most consumed beverages on the planet. Wine is used for a variety of things – drinking, cooking, etc. That means having the best wines available at a moment’s notice takes careful planning. It all starts with the way you store your wine.
Considering using a storage unit to house your wine? You’re not alone. While collecting wines is attractive, wine connoisseurs and businesses may not have the resources or space to allocate the collection. Since wine is a changeable substrate, proper storage is key. A wine storage facility is a perfect place to keep the wine in the best conditions to ensure the right light, humidity, and temperature work together.
Choosing the right facility with properly outfitted storage units to keep your wine safe and protected makes a difference. The most important investments start with the right education. Here are a few tips to consider when storing your wine:
Storing Your Wine
Specialty storage units are needed when storing wine. While many people use storage facilities for products or other items, wine is very different. One of the worst things you can do is store wine in an area that is exposed to extreme heat. This causes the wine to become sour. While heat has damaging effects, so does storing the wine at very cold temperatures. When wine is stored at the right temperature, it can last for years.
Watching the Temperature
If you plan on keeping your wine flavorful for months and years to come, a specialized unit is needed if you don’t have the space at home or a temperature-controlled room or warehouse. The climate in which wine is kept plays a huge role in whether the wine stays fresh or turns bad. Make sure you secure a facility that regulates and monitors the temperature on a continuous basis.
Posture
While it may look pretty to have wine sitting upright, the correct way to keep wine is on its side. This helps with flavor preservation and reduces the sediment that could collect at the bottom of the bottle. When the wine is upright for too long, separation occurs, damaging the taste and quality of the wine. Storage racks are created to keep the wine on its side, whether they are created for a tabletop display or larger storage facilities. In most cases, you will find them constructed in wood or metal.
Lighting
The darker the room is when storing wine, the better. Bright sunlight is not good when storing wine because where light resides, so does heat. Light also causes the wine to diminish in quality. The best consideration when using a storage facility is to make sure the wine is in a dark, temperature-controlled space. There is a reason why most wine bottles are in a dark, tinted wine bottle. Bottles in blue, green, or clear often experience light damage, which also hurts the wine over time. If the unit has some light exposure, storing the wine in crates may be a good choice.
Specialization
If you plan on using storage space for your wine, make sure it is a specialty storage facility. There are facilities that cater to wine connoisseurs and enthusiasts that understand the special conditions needed to maintain high levels of quality. While these climate-controlled units are useful, they must be regulated and monitored on a consistent basis, because even the best storage facility fluctuates in temperature based on a number of conditions. Additionally, the lights within the facility could possibly pose a problem. Finding the right facility that truly specializes in keeping wine at its optimal state can save you time and money.
Sizing
There are many variables to consider when storing wine. One of the most important things is selecting the right size unit. While having additional space may be convenient, it’s always best to measure how much space you need and think about additional wines you may want to add. One of the worst things is getting a space that’s too small or too large, which will eventually be reflected in the cost. Getting the right size unit from the beginning is the ideal choice.
Considering Bins
Take advantage of wine storage. Many facilities have storage bins for individuals who don’t have the need for a huge space but need an area where they can safely store their small collection. Pricing for these bins is reasonable and they are in locked, temperature-controlled spaces that have the same wine preservation conditions as an entire storage unit. For those who already have wine cellars but want to separate collections, this is a good alternative.
Isolation
When storing wine in a unit, it’s important to make sure the only thing in the unit is wine. If the wine is stored with other items or perishables, it could absorb those other smells and flavors as it breathes. Strong smells will definitely harm the wine (especially chemical-based smells). Additionally, keep the wine away from any old wood which could result in cork rot.
What about vibrations?
It’s been said that vibrations can harm the aging process of wine. While most storage facilities are stationary, outside elements from Mother Nature are always unexpected. While unlikely, if the facility experiences too much vibration, it could disturb the sediment in the wine, causing it to adopt a grainy texture.
The longer you can keep your wine in the best conditions, the better it will keep and taste. Wines should be aged for quality, and specialized units usually have wine racks or specialized shelves already in place. Working with a reputable wine storage facility will keep your wine in the best condition for as long as it needs to be stored.
These storage units can be found all over the country, ready to assist in maintaining your collection. For more information on the sizes and types of units available to store your wine collection, conduct a search to find the closest near you.