Cellaring 101

So you have a few cases of wine lying in the basement or under the stairs. Maybe you read in The Wall Street Journal that blue-chip wine has outperformed the stock market. Or perhaps you just want to start diving deeper into your wine obsession. Whatever the reason, if you’re planning on storing wine for more than a few years you need to be storing it properly. Full Stop.

You never want to pop the cork on that special bottle you’ve been saving for 10 years for that perfect occasion only to find out it has spoiled. If you expect to be able to resell a few bottles here and there proving provenance and storage conditions is step #1. So, what to do?

Here are a few basic rules to follow when storing your wine and/or building out a cellar:

1. Maintain a consistent temperature & humidity.

   • 55 F and 60% humidity are typical. Yes, for whites & reds.

2. Keep out of direct light.

3. Keep away from any source of vibration.

4. Still & sparkling wines with corks should be stored horizontally or inverted.

5. Wines bottled under screw top or glass stopper can be stored upright.

While being stuck in your cellar with a glass and a corkscrew doesn’t sound like the worst situation to find yourself in, you first need to have a cellar! I’m always available to help you with your project, no matter how far along you are. Send me a message!