“Freshness” is everything! This is the impression you get when you look at food advertisements. This may often be true, but of course not always!
Think of cheese, rum or dry-aged meat. Grandma's stew also tastes better than ever on the third day.
But what exactly is the situation with wine? How do I know which wine I can leave alone?
How do I store my wine properly? How do I know if I should store my wine? Whether you should really store your wine or drink it straight away depends on your thirst and desire for a particular wine and the following important criteria:
Your Personal Taste
Do you generally like wines that have been around for a few years? In general, wines become rounder over time. In white wine the acidity breaks down and the tannins in the red wine combine with each other, making the wine softer and more velvety. Now it's up to you to ask yourself whether you're actually looking for this taste or whether you need something fresher and more tangy?
The suitable storage place for wine
Find out if you have a suitable storage space for wine. Wine is a very sensitive commodity and has high storage requirements to ensure optimal quality.
temperature
Aromas in general are very sensitive to temperature. If the ambient temperature is above 20 degrees Celsius, the aromas may evaporate more quickly. If the wine is only stored for around 12 months, a temperature of up to 20 degrees is fine. The longer the wine is stored to mature, the cooler it should be. The optimal temperature for safe and good storage of wine is between 10 and 12 degrees.
Of course, it is important to store the wine in a cool place. However, it is much more important to keep the temperature of the wine constant. Temperature fluctuations cause the wine to lose its most beautiful aroma and age more quickly.
humidity
It is actually the cork more than the wine that needs stable humidity. If the air is too dry, the cork can dry out, become brittle and porous, and the wine will spoil. If the air is too humid, mold can form on the cork and spoil the wine as well.
How can you find out the humidity? It's easy with a hygrometer. The normal humidity in rooms 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, a more humid room air is therefore sufficient. For a long storage period, we recommend up to 70 / 80% humidity.
position
The storage position depends on the type of closure used on the wine. If the bottle is corked, the wine should definitely be stored lying down. This way, the cork stays moist on the inside and forms a reliable barrier against aromas. If the bottle has screw caps or glass corks, the wine can also be stored standing up.
Light
As with coffee and spices, the more light shines on a product, the faster the aromas are broken down. The classic wine cellar is therefore actually best suited for storing the fine wines in a light-protected manner.
vibrations and shocks
After a long period of storage, a small deposit of microscopic suspended matter forms in red wines - this is called a sediment. This sediment is allowed to form, but it should not settle and be stirred up again. Vibration-free storage is therefore recommended: away from washing machines, dryers, heating systems and everything that generates and emits vibrations. The best thing: in a wine rack that is firmly planted and does not wobble.
smells
As we all know, wine breathes even before the bottle is opened. Over time, even the strongest smell will find its way through the cork into the bottle. So keep it away from foods with strong smells such as bananas, garlic, coffee or onions. Unfortunately, the cork also does not keep chemicals away from the wine: do not store any cleaners, oils or preservatives near the wine. The best thing is a closed cupboard 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 an approximate guideline and are intended to serve as a guide:
The entry
Fresh, young and light white, rosé and red wines with a price range of around €7-15 . These wines usually benefit from a sparkling, youthful character. Our recommendation: drink quickly and do not store for too long, otherwise the fresh character may suffer.
The midfield
Solid wines with a price range of about 15-25€ are in the middle range Red wines tend to have a few years more aging potential here, but you can also leave white wines alone for a while. We recommend looking for the vintage on the label and calculating the storage time for white wines +3 years and for red wines +5 years.
top wines
Wines costing €25 and above generally have a lot of storage potential. The quality is significantly influenced by the location of the vineyard, the vintage, the harvest and the vinification. Our recommendation: The high quality means that storage for over 10 years is like a beauty treatment for the wine. So go for it and let the wine sit for a few years.
How does my wine develop?
Get a larger quantity (at least 6 bottles) of a good wine and taste a bottle every 6 months, for example. Make notes on how you evaluate parameters such as acidity, tannin, smell and taste. You will see how exciting the development of a wine can be when you are “doing nothing”.
