“Freshness” above all else! This is the impression one might get when looking at food advertisements. This may often be true, but certainly not always!
Think of cheese, rum, or dry-aged meat. And Grandma’s stew, as everyone knows, tastes better than ever on the third day.
But how exactly does this apply to wine? How do I know which wine I can let age?
How do I store my wine correctly? How do I know if I should store my wine? Whether you should really store your wine or drink it immediately depends not only on your thirst and desire for a specific wine, but also on the following important criteria:
Your Personal Taste
Do you generally like wines that have a few years behind them? Wines generally become smoother over time. In white wine , the acidity breaks down, and in red wine , the tannin compounds link together, making the wine ever smoother and more velvety. Now it's up to you to ask yourself whether you are even looking for this taste, or if you need something much fresher and livelier?
The Right Storage Place for Wine
Find out if you have a suitable storage place for wine. Wine is a very sensitive product and has high demands on its storage location for optimal quality preservation.
Temperature
Aromas in general are very temperature-sensitive. If the ambient temperature is above 20 degrees Celsius, the aromas may evaporate more quickly. However, if the wine is only to be stored for about 12 months, a temperature up to 20 degrees is fine. The longer the wine is to be stored for ripening, the cooler it should be. The optimal temperature for safe and good wine storage is between 10 and 12 degrees.
Now, it is of course important to store the wine cool. However, it is much more important to keep the wine's temperature constant. Especially due to temperature fluctuations, the finest aroma is lost and the wine ages faster.
Humidity
It is actually the cork, more than the wine, that needs stable humidity. If the air is too dry, the cork can also dry out, become brittle and porous, and the wine spoils. If the air is too humid, mold can form on the cork, also spoiling the wine.
How can you determine humidity? Simply with a hygrometer. Normal indoor humidity in Germany is around 40 – 60%. A cork needs a humidity of 45% or more for maximum elasticity. For a storage period of up to three years, therefore, a more humid room air is sufficient. For a long storage period, we recommend up to 70 / 80% humidity.
Position
The storage position depends on the wine's closure type. If the bottle is corked, the wine should definitely be stored horizontally. This keeps the cork moist from the inside and forms a reliable aroma barrier. For screw caps and glass stoppers, the wine can also be stored upright.
Light
As with coffee and spices: the more light shines on a product, the faster the aromas decompose. The classic wine cellar is therefore indeed best suited for light-protected storage of fine wines.
Vibrations and Shocks
In red wines, after prolonged storage, microscopic suspended particles form a small sediment – this is called a deposit. This deposit is fine to form, but it should not settle and then be stirred up again. Therefore, vibration-free storage is recommended: away from washing machines, dryers, heating systems, and anything that generates and emits vibrations. Best: in a sturdy wine rack that does not wobble.
Odors
As is well known, wine breathes even before the bottles are opened. Over time, even the strongest odor can penetrate the cork into the bottle. Therefore: keep it away from strong-smelling foods like bananas, garlic, coffee, or onions. Unfortunately, the cork also does not keep chemical agents away from the wine: do not store cleaners, oils, and protective agents in the vicinity of the wine. Best: a closed cabinet where the wine can rest in odor-free peace.
Quality
The most important criterion is the quality of the wine and thus indirectly also the price. Again, exceptions prove the rule. The following three categories are therefore a rough guideline and are intended for orientation:
Entry Level
Fresh, young, and light white, rosé, and red wines with a price range of approx. 7-15€. These wines usually benefit from a lively, youthful character. Our recommendation: drink them rather quickly and don't store them for too long, as otherwise the fresh character may suffer.
Mid-Range
Solid wines with a price range of approx. 15-25€ are in the mid-range . Here, red wines tend to have a few more years of aging potential, but you can also let white wines age a bit. We recommend looking for the vintage on the label and calculating +3 years for white wines and +5 years for red wines for the storage period.
Premium Wines
Wines from 25€ upwards usually have great aging potential. The quality is significantly influenced by the vineyard's location, the vintage, the harvest, and the vinification. Our recommendation: The high quality means that storing these wines for over 10 years is like a beauty treatment for them. So dare to let the wines rest for a few years.
How does my wine develop?
Get a slightly larger quantity (at least 6 bottles) of a good wine and taste one bottle every 6 months, for example. Take notes on how you rate parameters such as acidity, tannin, smell, and taste. You will see how exciting the development of a wine can be, especially when it is "doing nothing."
