Appropriate Storage Conditions for Your Wine Collection
For all you wine connoisseurs out there, no doubt that at some point you have dreamed of your own personal wine cellar but have lacked the space and the means for a massive home renovation. Well, now your dreams are about to become a reality, for I have a solution for you. Climate controlled self-storage units can be used to safely store a growing wine collection at minimal expense.
Among the world’s fruit crops, wine grapes rank #1 in number of acres planted. Over 20 million acres are set aside for the growing of these grapes, meaning that there is a massive amount of wine lovers out there trying to get their hands on as much as possible. And like any other collector, the desire for more inventory will be evident. Unfortunately, the storing of wine is not a simple process, but there are ways to ensure that your most cherished wines stay in perfect condition without you having to renovate your home.
The main thing you want to keep in mind when you have a valuable wine collection is that it’s very important that you store your bottles at the proper temperature. In cities with extremely cold weather, for example storage in Colorado Springs, it is vital that you store your wine at a warmer temperature to keep your product from freezing and your bottle possibly cracking. On the other hand, storage in Tucson is much different. Here, you will want to keep your wine and a much cooler temperature to prevent leaks in the wine cork.
The average temperature for wine storage should be around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, however red and white wines do have slightly different requirements for optimum aging. Red wine should be stored at a constant 55 degree Fahrenheit and white should be stored a bit lower at around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. This, along with these other five facts, should allow for the optimum storing of your cherished wine collection.
- Keep wine away from sunlight. The UV rays of the sun can change the smell and taste of wine, which is one reason you’ll see home wine storage built in basements. Most rental units do not have windows, so your bottles will be safely shielded from UV damage.
- Store all bottles lying on their sides. You can use or make inexpensive racks in a storage unit to keep bottles stacked on their sides. This prevents the cork in the bottles from drying out, which exposes the wine to air.
- Isolate the wine. Don’t store your wine bottles with anything else that may have a strong smell because the odors can actually get into your wine.
- Avoid excessive movements. Bottles should be moved as seldom as possible until they’re ready to be consumed, so position them strategically.
- Store wine in a dry location. This means that you should avoid wine rack storage in environments that are prone to humidity. If a wine bottle is exposed to too much humidity, the cork itself can dry and crack, spoiling the flavor.
If you’re going to be storing large quantities of several different types of wines, the ideal circumstance is to store them in separate units. Climate controlled self-storage units are the best way to store your impressive wine collection. They certify that regardless of the variety of wines you’re storing, the bottles will be kept in the ideal environment preserving their taste and promote proper aging. Rental fees are a lot less expensive than building a wine cellar, and the money that you do save can be used towards the purchase of more wine. Think about it.
Matt Schexnayder is on the SpareFoot.com marketing team and writes for the SpareFoot blog. SpareFoot is the world’s largest, simplest and best marketplace for self-storage that boasts the largest selection of storage units with real-time pricing and availability on the web. It has been a big part of the national moving and storage industry for over 3 years. Matt also writes for the self storage facility operators at SelfStorage.com.
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