By Jay Buchsbaum
Finding your perfect wine is sort of like finding your soul mate. So you want to do everything in your power to not mess up a good thing. However, we all know the road to disaster is paved with good intensions. Here are some seemingly harmless things that may be tinkering with the quality of your wine.
Heat
This is a problem particularly relevant amongst us city folk. If you live in a smaller space, say, an apartment in the city, you might store your wine in high kitchen cabinets. However, this is a big mistake. Heat rises to these areas, accelerating aging and eventually spoiling your wine.
Vibration
To avoid the “heat” issue, some people store their wine in a basement area. However, be wary of storing your wine close to heating or cooling units, even a fridge. The vibration of these devices causes the molecules in the wine to move at super speed, once again causing aging to speed up.
Direct Light
How many times have you walked into someone's living room and seen a beautiful wine display on an ornate wine rack? Unfortunately, this rack is usually in direct sunlight for a good portion of the day. It's important to keep wine away from the light in order to preserve its quality. Green bottles are beautiful, but they also stand for a purpose: they block out the light and grant the wine longevity.
Temperature Variation
Even if you're sensitive to the above stipulations, it's important to keep your wine in a place that has a consistent temperature. If the heat is on at night but the house is 6-10 degrees cooler during the day, the change is significant. Remember, like any good relationship, it's important to give your wine consistent treatment.
Improper Storage of Corked Wines
When corked wines are stored on their sides, the wine fills the cork. This moisture then causes the cork to expand and seals out air from the outside, preventing oxidation. So, even a 20 degree angle up can cause the wine to move too far away from the cork, allowing more air to seep in and cause the wine to age prematurely.
Although the list is endless, here are 4 wines that have great aging potential when stored properly, and four you should drink soon after purchasing.
Wines That Are Age Worthy
Herzog Chalk Hill Limited Cabernet, California
Castel C Chardonnay, Israel (yes, some whites age well)
Capcances Peraj Habib, Spain,
Porto Cordovera, Portugal
